Charles David Hicks

HICKS, WHEELER, TABACCO, RUSK

Posted By: Lisa Ciha (email)
Date: 6/29/2016 at 09:36:03

That old bastard cancer finally got Dave Hicks. After an eight-year struggle, he died before his stricken family on June 27, 2016 at the Hospice House of Johnson County. There will be no funeral, however there will be an Irish wake sometime in the fall, the actual date to be announced.

Charles David Hicks was born on May 16, 1953 in Trenton, Missouri. When he was four years old his family moved to Des Moines, where David grew up, attending Hoover High School from which he graduated in 1971. After one semester at Northwest Missouri State and one semester at Iowa State, he entered the Undergraduate Writing Program at the University of Iowa, where he received a BA in English in 1977. Several years later he returned to the University where he obtained a Master’s degree in Journalism. He taught graphic design and typography through the J School for several years before obtaining a job as a graphic designer at ACT, where he spent the remainder of his professional career.

In a Twain and Hemingway class while pursuing his BA, he met the love of his life, Jacque Roethler. Though they were not married until 1982, they were together from 1972 until Saturday. Also left to grieve for him are two sons, Dillon James Hicks and Colin Daniel Hicks.

He is further survived by brothers Bob (Julie) Wheeler, Nyle (Sandee) Wheeler, and Eddy Tabacco; and a sister Edee Rusk (Dick); various in-laws and many nieces nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Dave was a careful craftsman and besides the profession of graphic design, he was an accomplished carpenter. He was also a musician, playing the fiddle, flute, and guitar. He combined these two in his avocation, making bamboo, wooden, and plastic flutes. He also combined these two as a volunteer graphic designer for the Iowa Friends of Old Time music, designing the posters and tee shirts for the Fiddler’s Picnic for twenty years. He performed for many years with the band Stones in the Field. They released two CDs and he was at work on mixing another one at the time of his death. He was also a writer and self-published several children’s books. He also dabbled in painting and produced several good watercolors.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Iowa Friends of Old Time Music, c/o Dennis Roseman, 2611 East Court Street, Iowa City, IA 52245. To share thoughts, memories or a condolence for Dave’s family please go to the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com.

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