Obituary of Thomas C. Lickiss

Thomas C. “Tom” Lickiss, 68, of Iowa City, died Monday, February 13, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, under the compassionate care of the Hospice staff. The family would like to specifically thank the caring presence of Hospice nurses Larry and Kelsey, and aide Jasmine. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, February18, 2017, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Iowa City. There will be a time of light refreshments and fellowship following the services, all are welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in his memory to The ALS Association of Iowa @ 3636 Westtown Pkwy #204, West Des Moines, IA 50266 or Hospice of Mercy Hospital c/o Mercy Foundation @ 500 East Market Street, Iowa City, IA 52245. To share a thought, memory or condolence please go to the funeral home website @ www.gyaandciha.com. His family includes his wife, Gretchen; their son, Boyd; two brothers, Mike Lickiss (Nancy) and Terry Lickiss; brother-in-law Mike (Sharon) Dautremont; nieces and nephews, Amy Vinge (Bronson), Stacey Walker (Aaron), Cory (Melissa) Lickiss, Wes (Jen) Dautremont and Joe and Maggie Mischka; his great nieces and nephews, with whom he found great joy; and the Blockers, for whom he felt love and respect. Tom was born June 14, 1948, in Oelwein, Iowa the son of Xenta “Bootsy” (Tatro) and Boyd Lickiss. Following graduation from Oelwein High School in 1967, he received his associate’s degree. Tom married Lynn C. Dautremont on April 24, 1971. Lynn died on April 7, 1993. Tom married Gretchen Blocker on January 6, 1996. The couple received their greatest gift when their son, Boyd, was born in 2000. Tom was proud of the work he did for Goodyear in Mt. Pleasant over a 35-year period. When he talked about his hour long commute to work, some thought it would be monotonous, but Tom would say, “There is always something to see.” He was one of those people who left his mark wherever he was. He was a loyal friend, an eminently capable man with his hands and was an observer of our natural world. He loved the outdoors, the purity of life, and was true to his beliefs and to those he loved. “I only went for a walk and finally concluded to stay out until sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.” John Muir Check back soon for a more complete obituary.