James Robert Sickle

October 22, 1933 - December 14, 2020

James “Jim” Robert Sickle, 87, of Traverse City, passed away peacefully December 14, 2020. Jim was born in Calhoun County, WV, October 20, 1933 to parents Ernest and Freddie (Sommers) Sickle. On Sept. 8, 1956 Jim married Rose Marie Andrusiak. The couple raised their family in Dearborn and then moved to Traverse City in 1998 following Jim’s retirement. Jim worked for Fisher Body Fleetwood for 35 years as an engineer. He was an active member of the Fr. Patrick O’Kelly Knights of Columbus in Dearborn and awarded Knight of the Year. As a car fanatic, Jim enjoyed seeing the brand new Cadillac cars roll off the assembly line. He loved car auctions and collected model cars. Jim loved to work puzzles and word searches, where he would use a ruler for clean and precise lines. This was a pattern for most of what he did. Jim was famous for cooking pots of chili in the biggest pot possible, to the brim. He was an avid Ohio sports fan and enjoyed watching the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians and Ohio State Teams. He also enjoyed looking out the windows of his home watching the boats go by on East Bay and welcomed the variety of birds at the bird feeders. Papa loved spending time with his grandchildren collecting rocks on the beach, toasting marshmallows at the campfire and telling them stories of the “Good Old Days”! Jim leaves behind his Wife Rose; children Christine Sickle, Janice (Stewart) Witte, Karen (Ben) Card and Steven (Susan) Sickle; grandchildren Raymond (Catherine) Longuski, Sarah Longuski, Kyle Gebski and Allison, Jenna and Kara Sickle. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Virginia Winters and brother-in-law Robert Winters. A funeral Mass will take place at St. Francis Catholic Church on Monday, December 21st at 1 pm. Online streaming option located at SFParish.org with their live Facebook or YouTube Link. Memorial contributions may be made to the Father Fred Foundation. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com