Obituary of James Stickles

James Kenneth (Butch) Stickles, 83 years old, long-time resident of Zion, IL, gained his angel wings on December 22^nd, 2023.

Butch was born on February 8^th, 1940, to Dessie J. Stickles and Alice (Carlson) Stickles in Nunica, MI.

In 1960 he met the love of his life, Linda ‘Sue’ Spiller.  On November 26^th, of that year, Butch and Sue eloped to Alabama where they were married. Butch was 20 and Sue only 16 when they began their lives together.  They remained married until death parted them 61 years later.  Their marriage was an example to us all. 

Butch was a member of The Point Church in Winthrop Harbor, IL.  He and Sue were devoted volunteers at the North Point Food Bank for many years.  Butch was proud to be a Mason, and a member of the Anchor & Arc Lodge #1027, Waukegan, IL.  He worked at International Harvester for over 28 years, and retired from Case IH, in Racine, WI.  His life was all about family.  Nothing made him happier than to be spending a sunny summer day barbecuing for his family, watching the kids and grandkids swim in his pool, and sipping on a cold Bud Light!  Butch (aka James, Butch, Shorty, Jim…) was a great man.  He didn’t talk the talk, as he was fairly quiet, but he walked the walk daily.  He was a proud but humble man.  

He is survived by his brother, Joe Allen; sister-in-laws Clara (Tom) Stickles, Toni Spiller-Dady, Patricia (Phil) Varner, and Roxanne (David Miracle) Swindle.  He is also survived by his grandchildren, Christine (Terrell) Bankston Sr., Bryce (Neesha) Miller, Amanda Miller, Brandon (Jesse) Brown, Ashley (Stickles) Martin, Jami Stickles, and McKinley Swindle; as well as 11 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. 

He is preceded in death by the love of his life Linda ‘Sue’ Stickles; his children, Kenny (Connie) Stickles, Ruth ‘Tammy’ Miller; his parents, Dessie and Alice Stickles; his in-laws Virgil and Jewel Spiller; siblings, Alice Mae Kitson, Mary Irene Deater, Jack Stickles, Tom Stickles, Meradith Stickles; and brother-in-law Kevin Swindle.

Services will be on Wednesday, January 3^rd, 2024, at Congdon Funeral Home in Zion.  Visitation from 3:00 until 5:30 PM with the service beginning at 5:30 PM.  In lieu of flowers, donations to the Illinois Masonic Outreach Services would be appreciated.