John M. Wickum

Visitation for John M. Wickum, 52, of Palatine, will be from 1:00 p.m. until time of the Memorial Service, 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 6, 2014 at Bethel Lutheran Church, 3839 W. Frontage Road, Palatine, IL 60067.  Pastor Mark Woolfington will officiate.  The Interment was private.

The youngest of six children, John was born August 21, 1962 in Chicago, and passed away November 23, 2014 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Following in his father’s footsteps, working side by side, John was a member of I.B.E.W. Local #134. John took tremendous pride in being an electrician. John loved the Beatles, the Chicago Cubs, and the Chicago Bears. As master of his backyard Weber grill, John’s Thanksgiving turkeys will surely be missed. John was a favorite uncle to his adoring nieces and nephews, amusing them with his quick wit and tall tales. John was truly one of the good guys, a gentle giant, gone way too soon.

Survivors include his sons, John C. Wickum and Casey C. Wickum; mother, Carolyn K. Wickum (nee Lopata); siblings, Steven Wickum, Kathleen (Stephen) Cromar, David (Kathleen) Wickum, Nancy Wickum and Susan (Thomas) Thornton.

John was preceded in death by his father Marvyn Carl Wickum; and his beloved dog, Babe.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes donations be made to the Foundation Fighting Blindness, P.O. Box 17279, Baltimore, MD 21297-0495;1-800-683-5555;  FoundationFightingBlindnessMemorialDonation