James Stickel

James H. Stickel

Age 79 of Wilmington, passed away January 25, 2012 at his Winter home in Mesa, Arizona.

Born June 17, 1932 in Joliet, Jim was a son of the late George and Myrtle Stalker-Stickel. He was a Veteran of the United States Army; honorably serving during the Korean War (1951-1954) stateside with the 82nd Airborne and in Korea with the 7th Division of the 17th Regiment. Jim retired from Illinois Bell Telephone Company in 1989 after 35 years of service and also held the past position of Secretary for the Wilmington Volunteer Fire Department for 16 years. Jim was a 50 year member of the A.F.& A.M. Lodge #208 in Wilmington and was a P.H.P. of Chapter #142. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Wilmington and greatly enjoyed Arizona in the Winter months, where he and his wife Jean traveled for the past 30 years.

Survivors include his loving wife Jean (nee Vercelli); two children: Jyme Sue (Ray) Decker and Scott (Debra) Stickel, both of Wilmington; six grandchildren: Leslie Decker, Mallory Decker, Neisha (Mike) Ritter, Ben Stickel, Kyle Stickel and Tim Stickel; four great grandchildren: Julian Decker, Breanna Ritter, Daryian Ritter and Taylor Stickel, with another expected; one sister Jane (Louis) Apgar of Mesa, Arizona and his brothers and sisters-in-law: Emil "Scotty" (Sharon) Vercelli and Lodi (Lynn) Vercelli of Wilmington, Charles (Charlotte) Vercelli of Alabama and Toni (Jerry) LaPointe of Homer Glen, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers: William and Jack.

Per Jim's wishes, cremation rites have been accorded and the family will receive friends on Saturday April 21, 2012 from 11:00AM until time of Memorial Service 1:00PM at the First United Methodist Church, 401 East Kahler Road in Wilmington. Reverend H. Jae Lee will officiate and a private inurnment will follow in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood at a later date.

Preferred memorials in lieu of flowers may be made as gifts in Jim's memory to a charity of the donor's choosing.

Friends may sign the online guest book or send private condolences to the family by logging onto: www.FRBfuneral.com