ARTHUR LAWERENCE STICKELL, age 92, died peacefully on Friday 17 Apr 2009 at 'Provena Sacred Heart Home,' Avilla, Indiana. Born 25 Sep 1916 in the Elba Township, Knox County, Illinois, he was the son of Harley Charles and Daisy L. Stickell. After twice returning to work on the family farm during the Depression years, he graduated from the Universtiy of Illinois in 1940, and Law School in 1942. Entering the Navy as a Lieutenant, he took charge of a just-completed minesweeper at Boothbay Harbor, MA. Living with his young wife, Julia Bernice (Petrulis) Stickell, he trained up and down the mid-Atlantic states. Then, following the ground war of WWII, he served off North Africa, Italy, and southern France, before ending his service in the Phillipines. These experiences added to his natural curiosity and a certain restlessness. Returning home to Illinois, he practiced law from 1940s to the 1960s; became an early developer in the Cape Canaveral area of Florida; worked in the steel industry of northern Indiana in the 1980's, and then settled in Fort Wayne to be closer to his youngest grandchildren. Not given to retirement, he made many area friends in his work there in real estate, insurance, and as a Blue Cross senior advisor. He is survied by two sons: Larry and wife Kim of Roanoke, IN, and Doug of Maquon, IL. He deeply loved his nine granddaughters: Steffanie (deceased), Rebekah (deceased), Hedley, Susan, Danielle, Caroline, Madeleine, Hilary, and Sophie--and great-grandson Sacha. In April 2008, he lost his beloved wife of 66 years, Julia. Funeral services for the immediate family were held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday in the chapel of Sacred Heart Home; burial followed in the Gilson Cemetery, Gilson, Knox Co., IL. next to his wife, Julia.

Grandparents: Susan Pickrel Lawrence (Memorial# 32540576) & Francis M. Lawrence (# 32540555); Mary Belle Maxey Stickell (# 5445088) & Jacob Benton Stickell (5445085)