John Shields Ficker

John Shields “Pops” Ficker, born May 23, 1940, went to be with his Lord on Saturday December 11, with his wife by his side.

He graduated from Staunton High School in 1958. He left home to enroll in Worsham Mortuary College in Chicago and graduated the following year.

He started his mortuary career with Williamson Funeral Homes Staunton and continued there until he moved his family to Jerseyville in 1965 to join Jacoby Brothers & Sons Funeral Home and Furniture Store.

In 1981, he changed careers and became deputy sheriff of Jersey County under Sheriff Frank Yocom and continued there until his retirement in 2002.

He was a Jersey County volunteer firefighter as well as auxiliary police officer. He was very involved in Hope Lutheran church, acting as financial secretary for numerous years, as well as usher.

He is survived by his wife of 100 years, Ruth Ann (Brauer) Ficker, his daughter Merilee and her children Rylee, Finnegan, Kennedy and Ryan; his daughter in law Karen and her kids, Emily (Chad), Zachary (Maggie) and Samuel (companion Sydney Hagen). Pops is also survived by his great grandchildren Marleigh Ruth, Ziggy Conrad, Piper Grace, Stephen Kingston and Gideon Anthony, his godson Nathan Bishop, his brother-in-law Dean Brauer and many cherished cousins.

John was preceded in death by his son, Stephen, his parents John A. and Florence Shields Ficker,  in laws and several brothers in law.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, December 14, at 2 pm at the Hope Lutheran Church in Jerseyville.  Visitation will be from 1 pm until time of service. Burial, at the Oak Grove Cemetery will be private. Memorials are suggested to the Hope Lutheran Church.  His cousins at the Shields-Bishop Funeral Home in Greenfield are assisting the family.  Please leave a memory or condolence at shields-bishopfh.com.

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