In Memory of Charles Wm. Sykes
Charles William Sykes, 90, of Ida Grove passed away on Friday, March 25, 2016, at Willow Dale Wellness Village of Battle Creek, Iowa.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove. The Rev. Richard A. Salcido will officiate. Committal services will be held at a later date in the Ida Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com.
Charles William Sykes was born on May 29, 1925, in Ida Grove, Iowa, to Arcellus and Edith L (Percival) Sykes. He attended school in Ida Grove, and joined the Air National Guard unit in Sioux City, Iowa, and was later drafted by the United States Air Force. Charles served as a Military Air Policeman from 1950 to 1953 during the Korean conflict and returned from the service to join the family farm.
Charles met Lois Muckey and the couple were united into marriage on Feb. 13, 1955, in St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, where they continued to be lifelong members. The couple were blessed with three children, Karen, Dennis and Diane. Charles and Lois spent most of their married life farming south of Ida Grove. They enjoyed raising crops and cattle before retiring to Ida Grove in 2011.
Charles enjoyed restoring his beloved 1929 Model A Ford car, driving it in parades and giving rides to his friends and family. He had a love of horses and took great pride in restoring a buggy, sleigh and wagon and training his horses to pull them. He also enjoyed collecting antiques with his wife. Charles and Lois loved traveling during the winter months to places like Hawaii, Colorado, Florida, Texas and Las Vegas and oftentimes met up with friends and family.
Charles' greatest joy was visiting with his family and friends, working outdoors on the farm that he so loved and taking his wife dancing with friends on Saturday nights.
Left to treasure his memory is his loving wife of 61 years, Lois Sykes; children, Karen (Tom) Gorum of Omaha, Dennis (Sandy) Sykes of Ida Grove, and Diane (Corey) Bremer of Ida Grove; grandchildren, Tommy, Jennifer (Kyle), Sarah (Mike), Melissa (Aaron), Camron (Mallory) and Kirstyn (Jonny); great-grandchildren, Lily, Zoey, Jamison, Ariana, Dylan, Connor, Leah, Decklan and Lyrik; brother, Philp (Gloria) Sykes of Ida Grove; sister, Alice Jean Young and Tom Ryan of Stuart, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert Sykes; sister, Mary Jane Sykes; and grandson, Andrew Sykes.
He will be lovingly missed by his family and many friends.
SERVICES
10 :30 a.m., Wednesday,
March 30, 2016
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Ida Grove, Iowa
Military Rites:
McNamara-Moore Post No. 61
of the American Legion
Ida Grove, Iowa
OFFICIATING
Rev. Richard A. Salcido
CASKET BEARERS
Greg Young
Donald Young Jr.
Kyle Rohlk
Randy Rohlk
Jeremy Sykes
Robert Paulsen
VISITATION
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Ida Grove, Iowa
MUSIC
Geraldine Dankert, Organist
Congregational Hymns:
"Amazing Grace"
"The Old Rugged Cross"
"On Eagle's Wings"
INTERMENT
At A Later Date
Ida Grove Cemetery
Ida Grove, Iowa