Jack Van Sickel
Jack Vernon Van Sickel died Jan. 20, 2014 at Providence Place at Glencroft in Glendale Arizona where because of his Parkinson he had been for the past two years.
Jack was born June 9, 1926 in Akron, Ohio. When he was two his parents, Howard and Velda (Roberts) Van Sickel moved to Iowa (where Howard was born) where he grew up on a farm. After graduation from West Union High School he enlisted in the army and spent the last few months of WWII with the Combat Engineers in Germany. Using the G.I. bill he got his BA degree from Upper Iowa University.
On May 24th 1951 he married Joyce (Joy) daughter of Lawrence and Edna (Brackin) Gehring. In 2013 they celebrated their 62nd anniversary at a party at Glencroft.
After working one year with the Fayette County Engineer and teaching six years in Iowa the family moved to Arizona.
Thanks to a National Science Foundation scholarship Jack got his Master’s degree from Arizona State University. He retired early from teaching Jr. High science and then worked nine years as a volunteer in Joy’s first grade classroom. He also volunteered 9 years at the West Side Food Bank.
Jack liked hiking - The Grand Canyon, 8 miles around Mackinac Island Golden Gate Bridge, River walk in San Antonio, Mt. Baldy, cancer walks up South Mountain were some of his favorites.
He also liked traveling - a few of his favorites - 38 day NEA trip to Europe, Elderhostel trips to Scotland, Wales and Ireland, Hot Springs Arkansas, Gunflint Lodge in MN and others, a raft trip on the Colorado River, Cruise to Alaska (had to leave at Seward to take a helicopter to Anchorage where they put in a pace maker) and a trip to see the New England fall colors and New York City
Jack liked reading non-fiction and watching the history channel about WWII ( he became an expert on the European portion of this).
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Dick and Don and their wives. He is survived by his wife Joy and autistic son Mike, many nieces and nephews and friends and sisters-in-law Norma & Janet.
His remains are in the Columbarium at Central United Methodist Church in Phoenix where he was a member for over 50 years.
On June 19 at the Fayette County Historical Center between 2:00 - 4:00 there will be a celebration & remembrance of the lives of Jack Van Sickel and his sister-in-law Edith Gehring Bryant M.D hosted by his wife Joy and sisters-in law Norma and Janet. 24u24