Harold Wicks

Hastings Funeral Home in Perry is in charge of arrangements for Harold C. Wicks, 82, of Perry, longtime police chief of Perry. Harold died Thursday night at the Perry Lutheran Home. Services will be Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at Hastings Funeral Home with burial in Violet Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be after 1:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home and the family will be present from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Perry Police Department or Iowa Hospice. Harold Carlile Wicks, son of Melvin LaVerne Wicks and Freida Jane Carlile Wicks was born May 11, 1929 at Perry, Iowa, and died April 19, 2012 at the Perry Lutheran Home in Perry where he had resided the past three weeks. Harold was 82 years old. Harold attended Rippey High School. He farmed with his father in Boone County and later near Bouton in Dallas County. Harold was united in marriage with Charlotte Faye Tingwald in 1948 at the Methodist Church in Perry. They were blessed with two daughters, Jill and Jane. Harold later married Elaine Elwood Reed on December 14, 1974 at St. Mark Lutheran Church in West Des Moines. They made their home in Perry. He served in the Iowa National Guard from 1947 to 1949. Harold's work in addition to farming, included working for Firestone Tire, and Law Enforcement in Perry. He was presented with a Certificate of Commendation in June of 1972, Certificate of Appreciation from Central Iowa Regional Crime Commission in June of 1972, appointed Honorary Trustee of the International Police Hall of Fame in May of 1968, received a diploma from the Institute of Applied Science- Scientific crime detection including police photography, fingerprints, firearms identification, Principles of Criminal and Civil Investigations, Modus Operandi, Identification of Handwriting and Typewriting in February 1968; Certificate from Police Traffic School at State University of Iowa January 1959; Certificate of Recognition from Traffic Safety Officers Workshop ~ Motor Club of Iowa; Certificate from City of Des Moines Police In-Service Training of the Revised Iowa Criminal Code November 1977; and retired December 26,1979 with 22 years and 4 months of service and the first Chief of Police to retire from the Perry Police Department. Harold enjoyed walking, biking, dancing, playing cards, and playing darts. He also enjoyed country music, vacationing in Colorado where he made walking sticks, canes and a very long fishing pole!! He had enjoyed his membership in the Moose Lodge in Perry. Harold was preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Freida Wicks and step-mother Lola Wicks. His sister-in-law Betty Jo Wicks; brothers and sisters-in-law; Arlan Elwood, Duane Elwood, Rick Hixson, and Marlys Elwood also preceded him. Harold is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife Elaine; daughters Jill Monroe (Tim) of Murray, Iowa and Jane Modlin (Steve) of Dawson; 6 grandchildren: Tammy DeWolfe (Eddie) of Westwood, MA; Jason Motsick of Long Beach, CA; Adam and Zach Modlin of Dawson, IA; Katie Jensen (Alan); and Aaron Monroe all of Leon, IA; 5 great-grandchildren: Jaggar DeWolfe of Westwood, MA; Lexi Jensen; Austin Jensen; Shyanne Brown; and Macey Monroe all of Leon, IA; brothers Dr. Raymond Wicks (Oweta) of Fresno, CA; and Gerald Wicks of Elwood, NE. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters-in-law, Keith and Peggy Elwood of FL; Janice Hixson of Melrose, IA; Carroll Elwood of Blue Earth, MN; Arlin and Pat Thorson of Lake Mills, IA; Colleen Elwood of Rake, IA; and Galen and Cindy Elwood of Gibbon, MN; his beloved dog "Misty", nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. The family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.