John Henry Walter Hicks

It is with heavy hearts and fond memories that we say goodbye to John Hicks - son, loving husband, father, grandpa, brother and uncle. John passed away in the early hours of December 12, 2016 at the age of 74 years after a lengthy battle with heart and kidney disease. His body could no longer keep up with his strong spirit. He is survived by his wife Patricia (nee Nesbitt); daughters Angela (Tim) Mosco, Donna Hicks (Barry Barker); son Tom Hicks; his many much-loved grandkids, Robert, Margaret, Alexandra, Ezra, Maya, and Evan; step-grandkids Sarrah, Emmanauel, and Casey; his sister Mona (Lorne) Romph; his brothers Millard (Eva) Hicks, and Daniel (Sailor Dan) Hicks; as well as all of their families. John was predeceased by his son Anthony Robert John (August, 1965), father John Ernest, mother Helen Agnes (nee Virtue), and his brother Edward. Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, John was a curious boy, always looking for the next adventure to escape from his often difficult life at home. As a young man he served in the Canadian Navy aboard HMCS St. Laurent out of Victoria, British Columbia. He met Patricia (Pat) on a blind date set up by mutual friends and they were married on May 22, 1964 in Milan, Italy. The elopement was his idea. Being a proud man with a young family to look after, he completed his high school diploma and began his life-long career with the Calgary Fire Department in 1968. He was proud to serve the city he loved for 30 years and retired as Captain out of No. 4 Firehall, Delta Platoon. Always preferring to keep busy, John joined the Al Azhar Shriners and Provo Corps in the late 1980s. He faithfully served as a Chairman on the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital board, helping families find the care their children needed through the Shriner’s Hospital Foundation. He expressed his creative talents through carpentry and fine woodworking, and even some calligraphy. Dad could construct a gourmet sandwich (including a pickle on a toothpick) for his kids' lunch and his fabulous firehall cooking skill was appreciated by the family when he was off shift and mom, a nurse, was on shift. He was also great friends with his barbecue. We would like to thank the Fanning Centre and Calgary Foothills Hospital for their continuing care and compassion over the past few years - your kindnesses will never be forgotten. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Jacob, Michael, Meghan and Lydia of the South Calgary Funeral Centre for their sincere guidance through this difficult time. In keeping with John’s wishes, his remains, along with his beloved Calgary Fire Department ball cap, have been cremated and a private family memorial service will take place at a later date. John’s ashes will be interned in the Gull Lake Cemetery, Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, and also scattered at a special spot in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In lieu of flowers we would respectfully ask that donations be made in John’s memory to the Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Canada Society (http://curesma.ca/donate.htm), or the Burns Memorial Fund (c/o Kahanoff Centre, 1120, 105 12 Avenue S.E., Calgary, AB T2G 1A1).