Ernest Lloyd Sicks

He was born on January 13, 1918 in Lebanon, Indiana to Lloyd and Edith (Partner) Sicks. He married Irene Doris Drendel on August 17, 1943 and they lived in Crystal Lake for over 60 years. Irene died in February 2008 in Mesa, AZ. Also preceding him in death were his two sisters, Genevieve Pfeiffer, and Mary Sicks. Ernest spent his last two years in Peoria, IL where he resided at Courtyard Estates and later Heddington Oaks.

Ernest is survived by four children: Don (Susan) Sicks of Mears, MI; LCDR Glenn Sicks, USCG(ret.) of Juneau, AK; Carol (Adam) Sicks Lontai of Peoria, IL; and Robert Sicks, of Palos Park, IL; nine grandchildren: Christopher (Sara) Sicks, Sarah (Steve) Sicks Cohen, Brennan (Kate) Sicks, Joseph (Michelle) Lontai, Amanda (Jason) Lontai Seats, Jon (Erin)Lontai, Dan Lontai, Laura (Ryan) Billets and Lindsay (Ryan) Tuttle; and fourteen great-grandchildren: Lucy, Campbell, Ginger, Allison and Liam Sicks, and Abigail & Casey Cohen, Sophia, Elizabeth & Leo Lontai; Isla and August Seats; Kaelyn and Zachary Billets.

Ernie was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Crystal Lake, and Holy Cross Catholic Church in Mesa, AZ. He graduated from Crystal Lake Community High School in Crystal Lake, IL and attended the University of Illinois for several years. He enlisted in the US Navy the week prior to Pearl Harbor. He was assigned to the USS Polaris in transport and convoy protection duty in the North Atlantic in the early part of the war. Later he served on the USS Dorothea Dix in support of the invasions at Anzio and Normandy on D-Day. After the war he worked at the U.S. Post Office until his retirement. He and Irene also operated a landscaping business for a number of years.

Ernie and Irene enjoyed square dancing with the Lords & Ladies Square Dance Club, traveling with their Airstream club trailer friends, and participating in various activities at their winter home in Valle Del Oro in Mesa, AZ. He enjoyed playing golf, dominos and horseshoes. Ernie was an active, outgoing positive person, who was liked by all he met. He maintained his affable personality throughout his later years and will be missed by his children, his grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and extended family.

Visitation will be on Monday May 16th from 9:30 to 10:45 am at Querhammer & Flagg Funeral Home, 500 West Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake, IL. A funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 451 West Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake, IL. Burial will follow the Mass at St. Mary's Cemetery, Dean Street, Huntley, IL.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations be made to St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Crystal Lake, IL or a charity of choice.