Jeffrey Hicks

He was born on July 12, 1950, in Milwaukee. He was raised in Iron Mountain, the oldest of eight children to the late Merlin and Julie Hicks.

Jeff graduated from Iron Mountain High School class of 1968. He attended the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., graduating with an engineering degree and a commission in the U.S. Navy. Jeff worked as a project engineer.

Jeff married Patricia McMahon on December 19, 1972, in New York.

Jeff worked for several companies in his career: Mirro Company, Kohler Generator Company, and E.A. Doyle. He worked for Luvata, Appleton LLC as a “lean navigator” up until the time of his accident.

Jeff, in his free time, enjoyed restoring old cars, running, biking, and building and remodeling homes. Jeff loved to invent and build things. There was not a project Jeff could not do and was very generous with his time helping others with their projects. His siblings joked with him about his building projects as anything he constructed could withstand a hurricane.

On May 12, 2008, Jeff had a bicycling accident sustaining many injuries over his body and a traumatic brain injury. Over the last 13 years, Jeff received exemplary care at home by his loving and dedicated wife Patricia and Patricia’s sister DiAnn.

Jeff is survived by his wife of 49 years, Patricia and six siblings: brothers, Dennis Hicks of Iron Mountain, Steven (Cenia) Hicks of Kingston, Idaho; sisters, Carrie (Greg) Kelm of Sobieski, Wis., Mary (Mark) Wenzel of Aurora, Wis., Anne Hicks of Iron Mountain, and Jeanine (Tom) Graham of Prescott Valley, Ariz.; nieces and nephews, Andrew, Aric (Amber) Hicks, Adam and Travis Kelm, Jaclyn (Robert) Enriquez, Terese (Ajay Madhani) Wenzel, Mackenzie and Jenna Graham.

Jeff was preceded in death by both parents and his brother, Timothy.

The family would like to thank all those who contributed to Jeff’s fund for financial donations early on in his rehabilitation. Thank you to St. Vincent Hospital and Bellin Hospital for their care of Jeff over the years. We would also like to thank Unity Hospice for their support and care during Jeff’s final moments. Also we would like to thank CP, formally the Cerebral Palsy Center.

A memorial Mass will be held at Saint Mary and Saint Joseph Parish in Iron Mountain, at a later date. Burial will follow at Iron Mountain Cemetery.

The family has entrusted Ryan Funeral Home of De Pere, with the arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Jeffrey A Hicks online at www.ryanfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary or to CP.