Funeral Service
Obituary of George Frederick Hicks
Hicks, George Frederick
George was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1931. He joined a family of three girls, Ruth, Phyllis, and Mary. Later a sister Elizabeth was born followed by a brother John who died of cancer at age 54. His mother Olive (Farnham) Hicks was from Hearts Content, Newfoundland, and his father Henry George Hicks was from Carmanville, Newfoundland.
George was the beloved husband of the late Amy (Perry) for over 65 years. Dear father to Janice (Gerry) Lippert. Loving grandfather to Seth (Melody) Lippert, and Amy (BJ) Martin. George has, sisters, brothers-in-law and their wives, along with several nieces and nephews from both sides of the family located mostly in the East coast, with a few in Alberta, Ontario, and Florida.
The home town of Grand Falls was created around a pulp and paper industry which lasted for 100 years. George attended the town’s fine schools and afterward tried a season on one of CN Marines coastal ships as an “able bodied seaman”.
The marine lifestyle was not for him so he sought employment in the woods industry and prepared himself by attending the Maritime Forest Ranger School in Fredericton, NB, in 1950. Before leaving the Maritimes for a job in Northern Ontario with Marathon Pulp and Paper, he was smitten by a pretty nurse who herself had recently graduated from Nurse’s training in Fredericton. A year later, Amy Marie Perry, RN of Florenceville, NB, became his wife.
A few years later they became the proud parents of a daughter, Janice Marie, born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland. George and Amy moved back and forth between the Maritimes and Northern Ontario in the early years of their marriage, and spent two years of that time in Chapleau.
It was there that George was presented with the Gospel by John Martin and Len Fex, and accepted the news that Jesus' name meant much more than a swear word. He was later baptized in the Chapleau River and underwent a major life change.
George and Amy settled in Sussex, New Brunswick, where George finished out 35 years in the employ of the Department of Natural Resources as a Forest Ranger/Technician. George loved to fly (as a passenger/observer) in the course of his work.
With 5 of his co-workers, they mapped out 10 consecutive seasons of Spruce Budworm damage to the fir/spruce forests of New Brunswick. He often did aerial forest fire patrols, and in deer season when poachers would hunt at night, he helped initiate aerial patrols to spot these people in action and direct ground staff to apprehend them.
His work varied because of the long list of responsibilities. One which he really enjoyed with other co-workers, was the development of elementary school programs regarding the protection and wise use of natural resources.
Amy taught school (having trained as a teacher before nursing) and then worked for 25 years as a nurse/supervisor at the Sussex Regional Hospital. In the early to middle years of their life, they were both involved with youth ministry in the local church and community.
In the early 70’s, their daughter moved to Ontario for schooling, and during that time met Gerry Lippert from Kitchener. They were married in 1985 and raised two children, Seth and Amy in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.
George and Amy retired from their active work lives around the same time. In 1994, they moved closer to Janice and her family in Kitchener, and finally to New Hamburg when his beloved wife became debilitated with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Previous to that, they enjoyed the grandparenting years, and had the joy of seeing Seth marry Melody Fogwell in 2013, and Amy marry BJ Martin in 2014.
In October 2018 George decided to move into Chartwell Retirement Home in Elmira where he spent the last two years. He enjoyed the loving care from staff and made many special friends.
The family would like to say thank you to all of their friends and family who came today to share in this time of sorrow.
A funeral service will take place on Thursday, December 24, 2020, at 11 a.m. at the Dreisinger Funeral Home, 62 Arthur St. S., Elmira. Please call the funeral home at 519-669-2207, to register your attendance. Masks are mandatory, please remain in your vehicle until an attendant invites you in.
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