Carl Wicks

Carl Wicks loved to experience and appreciate the world around him. He lived a life that was both adventurous and rooted, outgoing and contented, fun loving and considerate. Carl was a proud veteran, a devoted husband, father and grandfather, and a friend to many. He did many things in his life, all of which shaped him into the person his family and friends loved dearly.

The year was 1921, and America was still in celebration of its momentous victory in World War I, and beginning to rev up for the Roaring Twenties. Prohibition was now in full effect, and the country was in the midst of a recession, though a renewed sense of hope surrounded the nation as it moved from the Industrial Age to a new Progressive Era. In the lumber village of Douglas, Michigan, William Fernando Wicks and his wife, Sarah (Coxford), had their own reasons for renewed hope with the birth of their second child. Already the proud parents of son, Robert, on April 4, 1921, they welcomed the arrival of their son, Carl. He and Robert were later joined by two more brothers, Jack and Frank, who completed the Wicks household.

Carl enjoyed a typical childhood growing up in Douglas. He received his education attending Douglas Elementary School on Center Street and graduated with the class of 1939 from Saugatuck High. Carl then went on to attend Western Michigan College of Education (now WMU) and played on the school’s golf team. However, after a year, Carl withdrew in order to have surgery.

In the spring of 1941, Carl started a 13-year career working on oil tankers on the Great Lakes in various technical and engineering capabilities. In 1944, he went to Maritime School in New London, Connecticut and graduated with an engineer’s license. With degree in hand, Carl proudly served as an engineer with the Merchant Marines during World War II. On his first ocean faring voyage, Carl served as second engineer on a six-month trip to Hawaii. His last passage on the Pacific lasted 13 months to the day, docked in 32 different ports and returned home via the Panama Canal to Norfolk, Virginia. After a six-week furlough, Carl boarded ship for his last ocean run, a five-month trip from New Orleans to Antwerp, Belgium and back to New York. Carl often told of one harrowing voyage through the Bougainville Strait in the South Pacific during the war when they narrowly missed being hit by a Japanese torpedo.

After the war, Carl went to work for Standard Oil in April 1946, on the tanker, Red Crown, in the Great Lakes. A year later, he took a job on the McGeon with the Hutchinson Company. In 1948, Carl went to work for Texaco, and while docked in a Wisconsin port, he met the love of his life, Jeanette Bushman, on a blind date. The two fell hopelessly in love and were happily married on July 20, 1949, in St. Nazianz, Wisconsin.

Carl continued working for Texaco for a couple more years before he and Jean bought Hickory Hills Country Club in Chilton, Wisconsin at an auction in late 1953. Carl then ended his maritime career and together, he and Jean operated the golf course from February 1954 until January 1960. In the summer of 1959, a new business opportunity soon presented itself while Carl was attending his 20-year high school reunion. He and Jean were soon the new owners of West Shore Golf Club in his hometown of Douglas, Michigan, which they bought from Harry Randle. West Shore was once an old orchard, which George Kingsley developed into a 9-hole golf course in 1916. It was later expanded to 18 holes in 1931, and Carl (just a young boy of 10 at the time) started caddying there until 1936. Jesse Owens, Ralph Metcalf, and Duke Slater, all athletes who competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, were some of the notables who played the course.

In 1962 Carl bought a 4-seater Stinson Voyager airplane which he flew until the birth of he son, Dan. The Wicks moved from their West Shore home to a lovely house situated on Wade Bayou with water views from every window. Carl could still be found at West Shore many days playing cards with local friends. A real people person, Carl had time to talk to anyone, and his natural social talent always left people charmed and smiling. Carl also enjoyed hunting, but not just for the sport of it, but also for the camaraderie with his family and friends.

Carl and Jean shared many delights together in their 60 years of marriage. They were blessed with three wonderful children: Paul (1954), Carla (1956) and Daniel (1967), who brought them great pride and joy. They later shared in the joys their four grandchildren would bring them. Although Carl’s family and business kept him quite busy, he valued his community and was actively involved in several organizations. He served five terms as Village President of Douglas and three terms as Village Trustee, during which time he was instrumental in helping the Village acquire Schultz Park and boat ramp and putting in sewers. In 1975, Carl was appointed by the Board of Directors to the Saugatuck Advisory Board of Citizens Trust and Savings Bank. He was also a member of the Douglas-Saugatuck Lion’s Club for 68 years. He, along with his family and friends, were actively involved with raising money for Special Olympics, Michigan, Area 12. Over the years, his efforts raised thousands of dollars. Additionally, Carl generously let many of the area schools use the golf course for their practices and tournaments. He was a big supporter of Studebaker cars too – he had eight of them over the years. After 26 years at West Shore, Carl and Jean retired in 1985 turning the business over to their son Paul, who continues to run the course.

Carl Wicks led a life saturated with honesty, integrity and respect. He served his country as a courageous sailor, his community as a respected businessman, and his family as a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He will be dearly missed.

Carl E. Wicks, age 89, of Douglas, MI passed away on Sunday, June 20, 2010, at his home on the River in Douglas. He was preceded in death by his brothers: Robert, Jack and Frank Wicks. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jean Wicks; his children, Paul Wicks and Kimberly DeVos, Carla Wilkerson, and Dan Wicks; four grandchildren: Megan, Gregory, Jared and Kyle; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Lorraine Wicks, Betty Benoit, Don and Shirley Bushman, and Dorothy and Harry Tolson; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 24, at the St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 1 St. Peter’s Drive in Douglas. Visitation is from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23, at the Saugatuck Chapel, Dykstra Funeral Homes, 520 Lake Street, Saugatuck, and one hour prior to the funeral mass on Thursday at the church. A scripture service will also be held at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be given to Special Olympics, Area 12, 590 Huizenga, Zeeland, MI 49464.

Please visit Carl’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory with his family or sign his online guest book. Arrangements by Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, Saugatuck Chapel.