John Matthew Wick, 83 years old of Kenosha, WI passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at Brookside Care Center, Kenosha, WI.
He was born September 21, 1940, in West Brownsville, PA the son of the late Michael and Katherine (Yarnovitch) Wick. John’s family moved to the Waukegan/North Chicago area of Illinois when he was a young boy. He met and fell in love with LaVon Back while she was visiting family members in Pleasant Prairie, WI and on July 23, 1966, John and LaVon were married at Peace Lutheran Church in Pigeon Falls, WI. LaVon preceded him in death in 2019 after 53 years of marriage.
John worked as a die caster for Johnson Outboard Motors, Waukegan, IL for 34 years before his retirement in 1997.
Before his retirement, John enjoyed golfing and bowling. After retiring from Johnson Motors, he enjoyed making bird houses, reading his Bible, watching “The Price Is Right” and “Let’s Make A Deal”. He also enjoyed playing UNO and coloring. John was an avid Green Bay Packer fan; he also liked to watch baseball and wrestling on television. Most of all, John enjoyed taking long naps with his grandsons alongside him in the chair and helping them with their Pinewood Derby cars for Cub Scouts, even though it was mostly John doing the work, the boys would always earn a trophy for the cars that he helped construct.
After LaVon’s retirement from Abbott Laboratories, they were able to take their dream vacation to Hawaii, something they would never forget!
When John met new people, they would always associate him to the “John Wick” movies, but the difference was, he was the original. People would say, “ be careful, John Wick is here”, and it would always bring a smile to his face.
Survivors include his sons, Richard J. Wick and Steven E. (Debbie Jablonski) Wick, both of Kenosha; daughter-in-law Christina Wick; grandsons, Aaron Wick, Brett Wick and Tyler Larsen; and two sisters, Kathryn Birdwell of Texas and Janet (Al) Scales of Gurnee, IL. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his youngest son, Jason Wick in 2015; and sisters, Mary Larker, Aggie Bullard, and Anne Wick; and two brothers, James “Jim” Wick and Michael “Sunny” Wick.
The family would like to say “thank you” to his physician, Dr. Friedl for his many years of care, Erin P. for all of her support and guidance, and to the staff at Brookside/Willowbrook of Kenosha, for their care and support.
Visitation will take place from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at St. Mary’s Lutheran Church, 2001 80th Street, with funeral services commencing at 2:00 p.m. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions to a family memorial or to St. Mary’s Lutheran Church Friendly Center, 2001 80th Street, Kenosha, WI 53143, in his memory.
