Larry D. Wicks

Larry Dean Wicks, 76 of Clarion, formerly of Kanawha, passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at his home in Clarion.

Funeral services for Larry Wicks will be held on Monday, May 12, 2014 at 10:30 AM at Kanawha Lutheran Church, 124 West Fourth Street in Kanawha, with Pastors Geoffrey and Char White officiating.  Burial will be at Norway Township Cemetery in rural Kanawha.  Graveside military services are under the direction of the Kanawha American Legion Post.

Visitation for Larry Wicks will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Sunday, May 11, 2014, at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Larry Dean Wicks was born June 13, 1937 to LeRoy and Margaret (Hasty) Wicks on the family farm in Norway Township.

Larry graduated from Kanawha High School, where he played catcher on the sub-state baseball team and was active in 4-H.  He attended Waldorf College in Forest City for a year before returning to the family farm.

Larry was united in marriage to Marlys Osby on June 15, 1958, at Kanawha Lutheran Church.  The couple made their home in Kanawha.

Larry served in the United States Army in Germany during the early 1960s.  He was an expert marksman, having scored highest out of 200 in his company.

After his discharge from the Army, Larry and Marlys returned to the Wicks family farm, the 3rd generation of Wicks to farm that land.

Larry loved every aspect of farming, including raising livestock and maintaining all of his own equipment.  He was known to be gentle and loving to his livestock, and took great pride in caring for the land.  Larry never truly retired from farming, having helped with the harvest in the fall of 2013.

Larry enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, and golfing.  He had a hole in one at Clarmond Country Club.  He relentlessly pursued perfection in everything he did.

More than anything, Larry loved spending time with his grandchildren.  Their recent involvement with raising cattle had rekindled his love of livestock, and he took great pleasure in helping them.

Larry was a longtime member of the Kanawha Lutheran Church.

Larry is survived by his wife Marlys of Clarion; children Lorie (Frank) Patrick and their son Graham of Alexander, Thomas (Laura) Wicks and their sons Thomas and James of Chickasha, Oklahoma, and LeRoy Wicks and his daughters Ashley and Margaret of Kanawha; sister Pam (Verle) Tate of Lake Cornelia; sisters-in-law Lois Goeman of Belmond and Lucille Osby of Kanawha; along with numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, sister Marge Gabel, brother Gary Wicks, and nephews Kerry Tate and Stacy Tate.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials may be left to the Meadows Assisted Living in Clarion.