Obituary of William Sticklen

Sticklen, William F. Age 87, died Thursday, October 13, 2011. Mr. Sticklen was born June 7, 1924 in Ottawa, IL to Margaret and Charles Sticklen. Orphaned at an early age, he and his three brothers were raised by their aunt, Nell (Higgins) Hemrich. He was an Army veteran and former owner of Lennon Wallpaper Company, retiring in 1981. Bill attended Joliet Catholic High where he played basketball, football and golf. The golf team won the Chicago Catholic Golf title three years in a row. He was also inducted into the Chicago Catholic League Basketball Hall of Fame. Bill had an athletic scholarship in basketball and golf to Northwestern University. He was the co-captain of the basketball team and the leading scorer two years in a row. The golf team won the Big Ten Championship in 1949. He set the intercollegiate course record at Northwestern Golf Course with a "66" against Notre Dame. Bill's love of golf helped him win the Herald News golf tournament twice and the Will County "Derby" eight times. In the years that he played in the Joliet Country Club championship, he lost only once to his good friend, Hank Sehring. Bill set the course record of "63" before the course was redesigned. During his golfing career he had 16 holes-in-one. Bill also played in the "Butterfield Best Ball Tournament" one of the better tournaments in the Midwest. He and his partners, James McCarthy and James Oberwortmann, reached the finals five times and won the championship three times. He was preceded in death by his parents, his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Gertrude (Sehring) and Joseph Lennon; his aunt, Nell Hemrich (1981); three brothers, Jack (1975), Charles (1994), and James (1994); one nephew, John Sticklen (1975); and his sister-in-law, Angela Carey Sticklen (2011). Mr. Sticklen is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Margaret Ann (Lennon) of Romeoville; daughter, Linda (Dave Kirchner) Sticklen of New Lenox; son, Peter (Anne O'Donnell) Sticklen of Solana Beach, CA; nieces, Liz (Dennis) Blackford, Mary (Matt) Murry, and Sue Prettyman and their children, Emily (Clint) Voights, Maureen and Michael Murry, and Kaitlin Prettyman. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Adrienne (Billy) Hutchings and Blake (Sally) Hand; great-grandchildren, Isabella, Tessa, Wesley and William Hutchings. He is further survived by his special friends, Paul Gantzert and Dr. Thomas (Merrily, deceased) Kane and family. We would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Senior Star & Memory Care at Senior Star, Bright Star, and Joliet Area Community Hospice. Also Dr. Steven Cataldo and his nurse Stephanie, Dr. Priya Venkataraman, Dr. Margaret Zabiega and Dr. Govind Ramadurai. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Alzheimer's Research at Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street S.W., Rochester, MN 55905 or Joliet Area Community Hospice. A Memorial Mass for William F. Sticklen will be celebrated Monday, October 17, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, Shorewood. Interment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Visitation Sunday, from 2-5 p.m. at: FRED C. DAMES FUNERAL HOME 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet For information: (815) 741-5500