Louis D Hicks

Louis D. Hicks, 94, of Akron, Iowa, formerly of Sioux City, died Friday, March 3, 2017, at his residence.
Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Sioux City. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Larkin Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home in Sioux City.
Louis D. Hicks the son of Daniel and Cora (Cole) Hicks, was born on July 22, 1922, in Hubbard, Neb. After receiving his education, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943. Louis served during World War II as a seabee and took part in the Philippine liberation. He was qualified to wear the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Ribbon with two stars, the Seabee Insignia and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one bronze star. Louis was honorably discharged in 1946.
On June 22, 1946, Louis was united in marriage with Nettie Dempsey in Sioux City. He worked as a yardman at Standard Ready Mix, semi-retiring in 1986. Louis then kept working part-time for the company until 1994. During this time, he also owned and operated a bait shop out of the basement of his home in Sioux City. Nettie died on July 4, 1994. The couple had been married for 48 years, and Louis absolutely adored her.
Louis was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church, where he served as an usher, and was an honorary Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and was commander of the Monahan Post in Sioux City for three years, and he was a member of the V.F.W. and the D.A.V. Louis volunteered for S.O.S. (Save Our Seniors), an organization that would repair and fix up homes for people in need. He also helped with some Habitat for Humanity homes.
Louis enjoyed fishing and camping. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was a great storyteller, jokester and prankster. Louis' love of poetry was also passed down through the family.
Louis loved all of life, from his garden to his family, friends and neighbors. Louis was well known for his gardening skills. He had an extensive garden in town and then two on the farm in Akron, to help provide for his family over the years. His family was the center of his world. Louis loved them all dearly and enjoyed every minute of sharing their lives with them. He was very religious, a man of his word, and had an extremely strong work ethic, which were the values that he instilled into the rest of his family. Louis was a strong, steadfast man with a generous heart and loving attitude for everyone around him.
Louis is survived by two sons, Dennis (Priscilla) Todd of Moville, Iowa, and James Hicks of South Sioux City; two daughters, Penny Hicks of Akron and Saresa (George) Mendoza of Akron; 16 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one brother, William Hicks of Sioux City; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Nettie; four children, Sherry Halverson and three infant boys; and four siblings, Stanley Hicks, Charles Hicks, Betty Weis and Beatrice Goreham.