Van Hicks

Van H. Hicks went to his Lord August 19, 2010 at Hospice Home in Casper, Wyoming. His wife and friends were with him for his journey. Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at Highland Park Community Church with Pastor A. G. Miller of First Assembly of God Church officiating. Viewing will be at Bustard's Funeral Home on Monday, August 23, 2010 from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Interment will be at Highland Cemetery. Masonic services will be conducted by Masonic Lodge 56. Bustard's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Van was born in Charlotte, N.C. 1/7/1934 to George P. Hicks, Jr., and Barbara K. Kammler Garris Hicks. In 1960, he married Beverly Cornett and adopted her children, Kathryn and Gary. They later divorced. On February 15, 1980 he married Carolyn M. Joines Chambers in Jackson, Wyoming. Van was preceded in death by his grandparents, his parents, sister Martha E. Alberts, brother James A Hicks, and son, Gary. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, daughter, Kathryn Mestas, sister-in-law, Vicki Hicks, six Grand-children: Larry Barrett and wife, Kristina, of Las Vegas, NV; Jon Barrett and wife, Autumn, of Casper, Sam Barrett and wife, Rebecca, of Casper, Deborah Hicks Valdez and husband, T.J., of Queen Creek, AZ and Janette Hicks Widhalm and husband, Steven, of Colorado, nephew Michael Hicks and wife, Lynette, of Colorado, nephew Robert Hicks and wife, Cindy, of North Carolina, niece Laura Hicks Stone and husband, Gath of Oklahoma City, OK, nephews Tony, Jim and Joe Cacciavallani and Joe's wife, Regina, all of Colorado, thirteen great-grandchildren: Georgia & Jake Barrett of Las Vegas, NV; Andrew, Ian and Elijah of Casper; Matthew, Zachary and Christopher of Casper; Xavier, Kira and Lucas of Queen Creek, AZ; Gillian and Tristan of Colorado, step-sons Kent Chambers and wife, Barbara, of Lowell, AR, & Jeff Chambers & wife, Barbara, of Bakersfield, CA; step-grandchildren Amy Staten and husband Ken of Bentonville, AR, Tony Chambers of Lowell, AR, Angie Schroetlin and Chad of York, NE, Tiffany Chambers of Lowell, AR, Alyssa Chambers of Bakersfield, CA and great-grandson Christopher Staten of Bentonville, AR. Van graduated from Natrona County High School in 1952 and the University of Wyoming, 1963. He also took many locksmith classes to be the Master Locksmith he was. As a boy, he carried 120 papers for the Casper Tribune Herald for six years from the McKinley Street area where he lived to the end of the Allendale Road. He worked for Cobusco as a young man. Van retired from the United States Postal Service in 1990 after 30 years of service, carrying mail at first and, then, as Area Maintenance Officer, traveling the State of Wyoming, keeping most of the equipment in the Post Offices in the State up and running. Van made many lifelong friends from all over the state. He operated his locksmith business, Carovan Specialties, for 10 years, retiring in 2000. Van was a member of The First Congregational Church, UCC for over 40 years serving as Moderator and, then, Trustee and Chairman of the Trustees for many years. Recently, he was attending First Christian Church of Casper. He was a Lifetime member of the Casper Elks Lodge #1353. He a became a Master Mason of his father's Masonic Lodge 52 in 1964, which later merged with Lodge 56, and Grand Encampment of Knights Templar York Rite in 1965. In 1968 he joined the Korein Shrine Temple #73 of Rawlins; and the Casper Shrine Club. He was a member of the Casper Shrine Boosters. In 1985, he and his friend, Jerry Dunstch, created the new Angel's Motorcycle Unit, for those Shriners who love to ride motorcycles. In 2004 he became a member of Shrine Jesters #148 and in 2005 he joined the Jesters On Wheels for those who loved riding motorcycles. In 2007, he purchased his third Harley-Davidson motorcycle, the special Jester Purple Harley-Davidson Softail Custom motorcycle. In his youth, Van played baseball, participated in the Soap Box Derby winning 2nd place and loved cars and motorcycles. He was a Life member of the Boy Scouts, and was a Scout Leader for several years. He loved participating in sports, football and swimming, especially diving, for NCHS and diving for his fraternity in college. He was proud of his membership in Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Delta Gamma Chapter, at the University of Wyoming, Laramie, for which he was House Manager and Treasurer. He was Honorably Discharged from the Wyoming Army National Guard after serving eight years. He was active with his Class of 1952 classmates at monthly luncheons, annual events and the Reunions which were held every 5 years. He was Chairman of the 45th Reunion for Class of 1952 and was on committees for other Reunions. . He joined the Casper Water Ski Club in 1968 and became an active member, serving as president for two years in 1976 and 1977. He belonged to the NRA, Wyoming Democratic Party, AMA, the University of Wyoming Alumni Association, Casper Snowmobile ‘Gypsies' Association, Wyoming Central Abate and Harley Owners Group H.O.G. Van always loved to fish and hunt big game and the camping that came with it. He enjoyed Alcova Lake and the Casper Water Ski Club and all it has to offer in boating, water skiing, fishing, a serious Ski Club fisherman, and a good two-ski slalom skier. After Carolyn & Van were married, they began backpacking in the high country of Wyoming - enjoying the wilderness, the wildlife and the scenic views. They would end their trips boat camping on Yellowstone Lake, Fremont or Jackson Lakes. In the winter they loved to ski and snowmobile. He and Carolyn became serious snowmobilers and enjoyed riding in the high country with such spectacular views and powder snow. He always enjoyed the group trips and the people involved, always making new friends along the way. Van participated in many Shrine activities enjoying old friends and the new ones made over the years. He especially enjoyed riding in the parades with his Angels Motorcycle Group. His favorite pastime came later in life when he bought his first Harley-Davidson motorcycle. At that time, he had to wait over a year for his bike after it was ordered. He liked to tell people he had to wait 62 years before he purchased his first Harley. His biker friends became friends for life. In the springtime, he and Carolyn would bike around Arizona and Mexico, enjoying the warm weather and the people they would meet along the way. Spring was always an education as wherever they traveled, Spring Breakers were there. He and Carolyn traveled over 120,000 miles. They rode the Alaska Highway to Fairbanks and back, rode to Daytona and south to Key West and they rode with biker friends from Laredo, Texas to Oaxaca, Mexico for the 4th Annual Mexican National H.O.G. Rally. Van & Carolyn made two trips to Milwaukee for Harley-Davidson's 95th and 100th Anniversaries. They made three trips to Canada, alone and with friends. His third bike was the purple Jester Shrine 2007 Harley-Davidson bike of which he was so proud. In 2010 it became a purple Jester Trike. He hauled the Trike to Lake Havasu City in March 2010 to break in the Trike. It was a GREAT RIDE, VAN. Van and Carolyn had one of those marriages that worked! They knew each other as teenagers but, after meeting again in 1978, their marriage in 1980 charted a new course of life for them both. They were there for each other through jobs, family matters and losses - his and hers: Carolyn's snowmobile wreck, Carolyn's cancer, Van's back surgery, Carolyn's knees, Van's heart attack, Carolyn's car wreck and Van having to use oxygen and all that life is about. They enjoyed their time together, whether traveling, playing at the lake or being together at home. Van was a caring, giving, loving person. If he said he would do something, he would do it until the job was completed. You could count on Van to be there for you. Van's many friends were there for him during his lengthy illness and all are so appreciated - his Class '52 friends, his Shrine Coffee group, the Shrine Angel bike members, his many biker friends and all those he met along the way, but especially, his friend, Duane Unterseher. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central Wyoming Hospice at 319 So. Wilson, Casper, 82601 or Shrine Children's Transportation Fund, %Bill Sullivan, Casper Shrine Club, PO Box 2222, Casper, WY 82602. Condolences for the family may be left at bustardsfuneralhome.com.

Visitation

Monday, August 23, 2010 2:00pm - 8:00pm