Leon B. Hicks, 76
Leon B. Hicks, 76, died Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011, in Coeur d'Alene where he had lived for the last five years. He was the fourth child of Burdick and Regina (Borski) Hicks, born in Junction City, Wis., on July 19, 1935.
He graduated from Emerson Junior High School in Stevens Point, Wis., where he also attended high school. He attended San Bemardino High School in San Bemardino, Calif., before returning home to Stevens Point to join the United States Marine Corp in January 1953. He was a career Marine, serving in both the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. His area of specialty was aircraft power plant mechanic, servicing both jet aircraft and advanced helicopters. Aside from combat duty, he served two tours at the Marine Corp Recruit Depot as a Senior Drill Instructor in San Diego, Calif., graduating 11 straight honor platoons.
During his military service, he earned the Korean Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, 1 star; UN Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Meritorious Mast medal. Cross of Gallantry with Palm and Frame medal; Rifle Expert badge; .45 Caliber Expert badge; and six-time Good Conduct medal. He was selected to attend numerous specialty academies and excelled in all. He retired from active Marine Corp service in March 1975 as a Gunnery Sergeant.
Following military retirement Lee was employed as a senior aerospace engineer at Senior Aerospace in El Cajon, Calif., for 13 years. He was also active in his churches in Poway, Calif., and Coeur d'Alene and achieved fourth degree status in the Knights of Columbus. He was twice Post Commander at the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Poway and twice selected as the State Commander.
Lee was married to the former Sheila Hansen. They had five daughters and divorced. He married Jacqueline Lucas in 1972. She passed away in 1994. He married Jeannine Russell in 2000. They moved to Coeur d'Alene in 2005.
He is survived by daughters Ellen (Don) Yamell of Poway, Gina Allison and Tracy Hicks of Weatherford, Texas, Jan McGuire of Lake Havasu, Ariz., and Leslie Windham (Derrick) of North Richland, Texas; sons Jeff (Kay) of Poway and John (Katrina) of Arlington, Texas; step-daughter Kimberly Serticchio of Coeur d'Alene; step-son Robert Ferguson of Van Nuys, Calif.; sisters Dolores Street and Mary Hicks of Ontario, Calif., Elizabeth Tokarski of Cudahy, Wis., Vivian (Bill) Bemouski of Stevens Point, Wis., and Donna (Otto) Mueller of Weatherford; and brother Del Hicks of Coeur d'Alene. He had 15 grandchildren, two great- grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Burdick and Regina; brother Gerry Hicks; sisters Barbara Ann and Rose; and daughters Dreanne and Jaye Lynn (Les).
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Coeur d'Alene. Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, at Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego with full military honors. Reception to follow at the Poway VFW.
Please visit Leon's memorial and sign his online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.