James Wicks

James O. Wicks, 70, Bismarck, died December 1, 2009. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 am Saturday at Church of the Ascension, Bismarck, with Rev. Marvin Klemmer officiating. Burial will be held in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm until 9:00 pm Friday at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a vigil service will be held at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Jim was born March 13, 1939, in Grafton, ND, the son of Gladys Karlenzig and Harry Wicks. Jim was raised in the Grafton area and worked as a farm laborer in the Red River Valley from a young age. On January 13, 1959, Jim was united in marriage to Mary O’Regan at East Grand Forks, MN. Jim worked at the grain elevators in Park River and Honeyford from 1959 until 1961. He then went to work on the missile sites until 1963. Jim moved with his family to Bismarck in 1965 where he worked on road construction projects, river erosion projects, and several local power plant construction projects. He was a member of the Local 49 Heavy Equipment Operator’s Union for 25 years. Jim was an avid outdoorsman. He loved fishing, hunting, and camping with his family and friends. He was always enthusiastic about teaching kids to hunt and fish and made many lifelong friends because of this. He was a man of many talents and interests. He was a self-taught guitar player who enjoyed playing and singing for his family and friends, which he passed on to his children and grandchildren. There are many fond memories of sitting around the house on a Saturday night listening to Jim sing, “A Boy named Sue” and “Blue Suede Shoes,” and feeling as though Johnny Cash and Elvis were giving us our own private concert. Jim was also very creative at making up his own little jingles or songs to amuse and entertain his grandchildren. He enjoyed woodworking, gun-smithing, reading, computers, and anything that involved working with his hands. No project was too small or too big. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend and loved his family. He will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary; two daughters, Tammy Kendal Krebs, and Liz John Kramer; three sons, Tim Angie Wicks, Jamie Wicks, and John Tiphanie Wicks; nine grandchildren, Lee, Lucas, Andrew, Tommy, Jenny, Jordan, Mac, Devin, and Maria and three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Janice Louis Richotte and Audrey Blair Konschak; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Gladys and stepfather, Herman; his father, Harry; his grandson, Chris; and four brothers, Jackie, Leroy, Mike and Gene.

James Wicks

March 13, 1939 - December 1, 2009