John William Wicksall passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 12, 2019 at the age of 69 years old. He is survived by Ingrid, his loving wife of 38 years, his children, Lacey and Jonathan, his daughter-in-law, Laura, and his grandchildren, Lana (9) and Hans (7). John was born on May 5, 1949 in Traverse City, MI, where he lived for his entire life.
The only child of Jack and Blanche Wicksall, he spent his childhood bird hunting behind Wicksall English Setters, fishing the Boardman River with his cousins, skiing at Hickory Hills, and terrorizing the nuns at Immaculate Conception Catholic school. It was these shenanigans that undoubtedly led to his transfer and eventual graduation from Traverse City High school, class of 67’. Not one for formal academics, despite being an avid reader with an uncanny knack for spelling, John spent 2 years at a community college before going to work for Wicksall Distributing.
After nearly two decades at Wicksall’s, he moved on to the Bay Area Transportation Authority where he worked until receiving his cancer diagnosis this past November. Throughout his adult life, John was known by all for his deep faith in Christ, which he loved talking about and proudly displayed through bumper stickers on his truck and colorful graphic t-shirts in the 90’s. In addition to never missing an opportunity to tell others about Jesus (including a palliative care doctor just 2 days before his death), John displayed his faith through actions.
He loved people and will always be remembered for his great generosity. Dad loved cooking for others, hosting friends and family at his home and cabin on the Boardman River, and volunteering at his beloved East Bay Calvary church. For as long as he lived, John was happiest with a golf club or a rifle in hand.
He reveled in dragging his kids out of bed at the crack of dawn to catch the first tee-time of the day or to land a 10-point buck. He had a surprisingly sharp photographic memory and knew the golf courses and woods of northern Michigan like the back of his hand. When he wasn’t hunting, golfing, or whittling away at his never-ending “honey do” list, John secured his spot in history as the world’s greatest papa.
He loved taking his grandkids fishing and rafting on the river, on four-wheeler rides throughout the woods to pick black raspberries on their property, and to the Dairy Lodge with Grammy for the best twist cone in town. To those of you, like us, who are mourning his life that was cut painfully too short, please take heart. As John joyfully told his oncologist this past December, “Doc, if this treatment works and I’m cured from cancer, I get to go home.
If it doesn’t, that’s OK, I still get to go HOME”. Let’s all find joy in knowing that John is happy, cancer- free and walking down a long, pristine fairway in his eternal home. In an effort to shake our fist at the brutal Northern Michigan winter (a gesture that John would have greatly encouraged), the family is planning a celebration of his life to take place at East Bay Calvary church on May 11, 2019.
Please join us for a service, followed by a luncheon. Location and times to be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to East Bay Calvary Church or to Traverse City Christian School.
Kindly share thoughts and memories with John’s family at www. reynolds-jonkhoff.com.
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