John R. Stickler

Funeral services for John Richard Stickler age 76 of Ogdensburg, NY and North Fort Myers, FL will be held on Thursday (July 7, 2011) at 11:00am at the St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ogdensburg with Rev. Robert Longbottom officiating. Burial will be private at the Evergreen Cemetery in Canton. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday from 2-4 & 6-8pm at the Fox & Murray Funeral Home. Mr. Stickler died Sunday July 3, 2011 at his home under the care of his family and Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley.

He will be sadly missed by his loving family including his wife, Joanne; a daughter Karen Rogers and her husband Jim of Ogdensburg; three sons Jim and his wife Sandy of Owego, NY

Mark and his wife Lynda of Barton, NY and Bruce and his wife Karen of Elmira, NY; grandchildren Jonathan and Katie Rogers, Jena, Tyler, Isaac, Adam, Eric, Bruce, Jr. and Jennifer Stickler; a brother Bob Stickler of Horseheads, NY; sisters Alice Weiskopff of Depew, NY, Dorothy Walker Marvin of Elmira, NY, Leona Vester of Elmira, NY, Mary Fatula of Orlando, FL; half-sister Betty Cartwright of Florahome, FL along with several nieces, nephews & cousins.

John was born on September 7, 1934 in Elmira, NY, the youngest child of Frank L. and Dorothy Ann (Morris) Stickler. He graduated from Southside High School in Elmira and served in the US Army National Guard for many years. A previous marriage ended in divorce and he then married Joanne Walters on June 24, 1967 in the Nelson, PA at the United Methodist Church.

He was employed at the Elmira City School District Buildings and Grounds Department for several years until 1969 when he relocated to Canton. He then began his 27 year employment with St. Lawrence University where he worked as the manager of the Physical Plant Department until his retirement in 1996.

He will join the predeceased members of his family, including his parents, two brothers Claude Stickler at age 4, Frank Stickler, and a half-brother George Lewis, who was killed during a battle in World II.

John was noted for his teasing manner and funny wisecracks. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, fishing, boating, hunting, golfing, playing cards, taking care of the lawn, puttering around the house, and helping the neighbors. He enjoyed immensely living on the shore of the St. Lawrence River in Ogdensburg and on the shore of Horizon Lake in North Fort Myers. True to his character, he left no stone unturned in a valiant two year fight with pancreatic cancer, undergoing surgery in Fort Myers, FL and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, as well as radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

Those wishing to express their sympathy may consider a donation to Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley or Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 401 North Broadway, Weinberg 2242, Baltimore, MD 21231-2410 Attn: Ralph H. Hruban, M.D, Pancreatic Research.