Gene Sik, 72, of White, died Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, at The Neighborhoods at Brookview after a long and courageous battle with a terminal brain disease.
Funeral service are at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Wilno, Minnesota. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Birk Funeral Home in Ivanhoe, Minnesota.
Eugene Roman Sik was born March 16, 1945, in Hendricks, Minnesota, to Roman and Anna (Summervold) Sik. He received all of his sacraments at St. John Cantius Church in Wilno. Gene farmed with his dad until his marriage to Julie McFadden April 1, 1967, when the couple moved to a farm near Astoria, where he continued farming and raising cattle.
They had four children, Michael, Lenny, Lisa, and Jason. They divorced in 1983.
In 2008 Gene left the farm and moved to White. He worked for Leading Edge, mowing, until he retired in 2013. He loved working outside.
Gene loved gardening, raising chickens, fishing and anything to do with being outside. He loved showing his children and grandchildren how to grow the perfect garden.
He also loved animals of all kinds. But most of all, Gene loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was a very kind and loving person who will be missed dearly.
He is survived by his four children, Michael (Angela) Sik of Colman, Lenny Sik of Brookings, Lisa (Alan) Brutty of Brookings and Jason (Nicole) Sik of Brookings’ 14 grandchildren; three sisters, Dolores Vanderostyne of Canby, Minnesota, Phyllis (Ray) Popowski of Ivanhoe, Minnesota, and Diane (Gary) Prescott of Redwood Falls, Minnesota, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Alvin, Stanley, Irwin, Gerald, and Duane, an infant brother and an infant sister, Alice; a brother-in-law, Eddie Vanderostyne, and sister-in-law, Arvilla Sik, and one infant grandson.
