Michael George "Woody" Sickler

1962 - 2018

Michael George "Woody" Sickler

Madison/Schofield - There is another dedicated Wisconsin Sports Fan with angel's wings today. Our beloved, son, brother, uncle, and friend Michael George "Woody" Sickler passed unexpectedly, but peacefully at his home on Monday, April 16, 2018. His life began on Dec. 29, 1962, at Wausau Hospital South, the son of Gene E. and Joy L. (DuFour) Sickler. He was a middle child and we joked about that as kids. In the 5th grade, he survived a long drop and sudden stop from the limbs of a gigantic pine tree, breaking his leg in multiple places. As Mike described it to his friends "Picture Homer Simpson bouncing down the tree- doh, doh, doh". It was after that fall that his real love of all things "comic book" began, with the encouragement of one of his nurses who brought bags of comic books to him during his long hospital stay. During the early days of cable, he added horror films and sci-fi to his passions. In recent years he had the opportunity to have a photo taken in the Batmobile and with his iconic super hero creator, Stan Lee. Always willing to have a text chat about football, baseball, or basketball, his passion for all things Wisconsin had no peer. While having no children of his own, he was the favorite uncle to Christian (Kevin), Katherine and Ray (Kristi), Logan and Jackson (Marie). He was always willing to talk Disney movies with the kids when they were small, Super Hero and Sci-Fi movies when they were older and right there to talk Packers, Badgers, Bucks, and Brewers with anyone! He was also quite gifted at video games and was the family "subject matter expert". Want to see the newest blockbuster? Mike was game for the first showing or any subsequent showing of the best movies - just don't be late and plan to stay through all the credits! For his friends from D.C. Everest High School (class of '81), his love of the arts - any art, and music - any music class, was well known. Musicals and drama, every band class (jazz, pep, marching, orchestra) and choir were his course load. His love of art and music continued throughout his life. Many of us have a caricature or cartoon picture drawn on a bar napkin by Mike that we have cherished over the years, some of his drawings were also published in Outdoor Fishing and Lutheran Pioneers publications. Mike is survived by his parents, Gene and Joy of Ringle, Wis.; brother, Kevin (Laurie) Sickler of Sawyer, ND and their son Christian; sister, Kristi (David) Brereton and their kids, Kate and Ray; sister, Marie (Craig) Furniss and their sons, Logan and Jackson; cousins, Steve, Stuart, Sue and Sara (children of Dale and Dawn Sickler) who all grew up with Mike so closely; cousins, Nancy and Linda (children of Jim and Mary Lou DuFour); cousin, Neil DuFour (son of Art and Ruth DuFour); Ken, Cherie, and Tim (children of Bill DuFour); work sisters, Michelle and Nancy; "Almost Kin", Dave and Tara, Dash and Sandy, Mike and Michelle; and dozens of amazing friends gathered over the years of his all-to-short life. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, George and Emily (Luebbe) Sickler; maternal grandparents, Emma and Murdock DuFour; and Uncle Dale and Aunt Dawn Sickler; Uncle Bill DuFour; Uncle Art and Aunt Ruth DuFour; and Uncle Jim and Aunt Mary Lou DuFour. A Celebration Service to offer an opportunity to say farewell and honor Mike will be held at CORAL LANES, 1025 Grand Ave., Rothschild, Wis., at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, 2018. Friends are invited for reminiscing and laughter for as long as it takes for us to "do it right for Mike". An opportunity to gather will also be held soon in Madison for those friends who are unable to make the northern trek this weekend. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation care

5203 Monona Drive

608-221-5420