Obituaries
Richard E. Fick
October 22, 1938 - June 24, 2018
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VISITATION
June 29, 2018 | 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. -
Yurs Funeral Home
1771 W. State Street
Geneva, Illinois 60134 - June 30, 2018 | 10:00 A.M.
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Faith Lutheran Church
1745 Kaneville Road
Geneva, Illinois 60134 -
Burial Location
Private
Rich would have been as surprised to see his obituary as we are to be writing it. He was intending to live beyond the age of his beautiful mother, who passed away at 101. “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom” – and yet any one of us could, like Rich, die suddenly while getting ready for church one Sunday.
Rich was born on October 22, 1938 and spent most of his life in the greater Chicagoland area. He was married to his incomparable wife, Kay, for almost forty-three years, and frequently acknowledged her as one of the most profound gifts of his life. He treasured his children, too, teaching them to cycle and drive stick and enduring their reactions to Luther’s Small Catechism. He brought traditions to his grandchildren that he had established with their parents: a game called Aye-Yaye-Up-Up-Up, as well as a bedtime song that he had sung as a boy.
He was the Director of Cyrus Ministries International, a role that allowed him to share both his abiding faith and the heart that he had for people, putting his MBA from the University of Chicago to use in a different context. He would have been touched to know that his funeral will be livestreamed by friends and family around the world, including Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and Bolivia. He was an elder at Faith Lutheran Church in Geneva, where, with Kay, he had been a member for almost forty years. Rich and Kay traveled widely, from Kenya to Oxford to Mt. Sinai, where Rich’s life changed course.
We will miss his joy, and the way he had of speaking truth to the hearts of others. We will miss the grin he wore just before producing a far-fetched pun, a grin that kept us on alert when Rich officiated the wedding of his son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Terra. We will miss his deep love of “The Messiah,” even in the middle of August.
He is survived by his wife, Kay; his children, Katherine, Tim (Terra), Dan (Aylín) Fick; his grandchildren, Beth, Benji, Jason, Rebecca, Caleb, and Annika Fick; his brother, William (Linda) Fick; his sister-in-law, Marian Fick; his brothers-in-law Dave (Chrissy) Rotermund and Dan (Connie) Rotermund; his nephews, nieces, and cousins; and by many others whom he loved as a father. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Robert Fick.
Visitation will be held on Friday, June 29 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Yurs Funeral Home, 1771 State Street, Geneva. Funeral services will be officiated by Rich’s son, the Rev. Dan Fick, and the Rev. Phil Gruenbaum, and take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 30 at Faith Lutheran Church, 1745 Kaneville Road, Geneva, with a luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Rich’s memory to Cyrus Ministries International, World Indigenous Missions or ShelterBox USA.
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Condolences
Elizabeth Ostling from Jamaica Plain, MA
"Dear Katherine and the Fick Family,May you be surrounded by the God of love and the love of friends and family during this painful time. I am so deeply sorry for your loss.In Christ, Elizabeth Ostling ------------------- ¶ Even-song.BLest be the God of love, Who gave us eyes, and light, and power this day, Both to be busie, and to play. But much more blest be God above,Who gave me sight alone, Which to himself he did denie: For when he sees my waies, I dy: But I have got his sonne, and he hath none.What have I brought thee home For this thy love? have I discharg’d the debt, Which this dayes favour did beget? I ranne; but all I brought, was fome.Thy diet, care, and cost Do end in bubbles, balls of winde; Of winde to thee whom I have crost, But balls of wilde-fire to my troubled minde.Yet still thou goest on, And now with darknesse closest wearie eyes, Saying to man, It doth suffice: Henceforth repose; your work is done.Thus in thy ebony box Thou dost inclose us, till the day Put our amendment in our way, And give new wheels to our disorder’d clocks.I muse, which shows more love, The day or night: that is the gale, this th’ harbour; That is the walk, and this the arbour; Or that the garden, this the grove.My God, thou art all love. Not one poore minute scapes thy breast, But brings a favour from above; And in this love, more then in bed, I rest.- George Herbert"
Sarah Whiteside from Chicago, IL
"I thought he would live forever. He and Kay had a great impact on my husband Pastor samuel Whiteside, and the man he became under the training and leadership of this great humble man. My condolences to Kay and the family."
Matt and Carol Lawlor and Family from West Melbourne, FL
"Sing oh heavens, and be joyful oh earth, and break forth into singing , oh mountains!!!! Oh, we can hear him now...in The Presence of The One he loved so dearly, singing and dancing, and encouraging us on!! The Lawlor family can't imagine what our lives would look like if The Lord had not brought Rich and Kay into our lives, so we are eternally blessed and grateful! They always said, we don't have the answers for you, but we're going to seek The One who does! They always invited JESUS to bring forth His Truth and Revelations! HE always did!! Rich, you will be greatly missed, our friend!!! Kay, we love and honor you, and hope you will come visit us in Florida! Katherine, Tim, Danny and families...we love you and so very grateful for all the precious memories....puppet shows, laughter and joy! May YAHWEH bless and keep you!!!! Much love and many blessings, Matt, Carol, and family"
Rich And Nancy Jackson from Mesa, AZ
"Dearest Kay, Rich and I were so sorry to hear of Richs passing. But knowing how he so deeply loved the Lord, it's hard to stay sad for long. He truly was an inspiration, and we admired his dedication to Jesus. Rich, you, and the other lovely people at Cyrus Ministries, helped us through such trying spiritual times, and we will always be grateful. We are honored and humbled, to have had our paths cross, to have been touched by Cyrus Ministries, and we will always hold a special place for him and you in our hearts; a time of much joy and love, and immeasurable teachings that brought us closer to Jesus. He will be missed. Blessings and love to you, and holding you in prayer for God's ministering angels to comfort you always."
Maria Dusenbery from Saugatuck , MI
"May you be blessed as Rich blessed us so many times, we just returned from a short visit to IL, sorry we read this late and missed the service, we share your sorrow, but rejoice as we know that he is with our Savior and where we all aim to be, he finished this race well !"
Bob and Sally Thiede from Destin, FL
"Rich was both my mentor and friend, my companion on many overseas trips. He taught me The foundation of my faith, sharing the word of how “Great is our God “. Bob Thiede We both will miss him dearly and look forward in seeing again. We send prayers for God’s loving arms to be tightly around you Kay and your family during this time of Loss. Love ❤️ Bob and Sally."