Obituary of John H. Wiker

John “Jack” H. Wiker

Age 60, of Serena, IL, passed away Tuesday, March 26, 2019, following complications after open heart surgery.  Born on July 17, 1958 in North Charleroi, PA, he was the son of the late William and Aileen (nee Hammons) Wiker.  Jack graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, and was a brilliant and accomplished mechanical engineer and inventor.  He lived and breathed tinkering and fixing things; he dreamed in mathematical equations.  Jack enjoyed building model rockets, computers, “inventive” cooking beer and exploring virtual reality technology.  He was endlessly kind, fair to a fault and the funniest man his family has ever known.  His greatest joy was spending time with his family, that he loved so much.

Jack is survived by the love of his life, his fiancé Karen Mikkelsen; daughters, Kathryn (Jeffrey) Bradley, Lianne (Mitchell) Hedditch, Melissa (Joshua) Shimizu and Denalynn Silkey; five grandchildren, Finn and Geneva Bradley, Gavin, Dylan, Jason Shimizu and one expected in July baby boy Hedditch; brothers, William “Bill” and Robert “Bob” (Rhonda) Wiker; and sister, Aileen “Snook” Stromeyer.  Also surviving is his loving former wife, Susan Cherven (life partner Nikolas Kornaros) Wiker, with whom Jack and Karen shared a lifelong friendship and many nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation for Jack Wiker will be held on Sunday, March 31, 2019, from 1:00 until Sharing of Memories at 5:00 p.m., at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet.  As it was Jack’s request, cremation rites will be accorded following services.  Interment will be held privately in Pennsylvania at a later date.  For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit his Memorial Tribute at www.frecdames.com