Thomas Wick

1951 - 2025

BORN

1951

DIED

2025

FUNERAL HOME

Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel

310 1st Avenue North

Clear Lake, Iowa

Thomas Wick Obituary

Thomas Wick

October 18, 1951 - August 16, 2025

Thomas S. Wick, 73, died on August 16th, 2025 from complications due to congestive heart failure. Tom was well known for being one of the best auto mechanics in North Iowa, owning and operating Wick's Repair in Mason City from 1983 to 2010. He specialized in fixing rare, antique, and foreign automobiles. People from throughout the Midwest would bring him their expensive Porsches, Jaguars, Mercedes, BMWs, Ferraris, Cadillacs, and even the occasional Lamborghini or Delorean to fix. Many times, he could precisely diagnose a problem with a car just by listening to the sound of it running.

Tom was born October 18th, 1951 to parents Ellis and Marguerite Wick, who ran the old Wick's Groceries and Wick's Cottages near the Clear Lake City Park. Growing up, Tom would build go-carts out of lawn mower engines and work on cars in his backyard where he usually had at least one engine hanging by a chain from a tree. Whether it was gas, electric, or diesel, he always loved anything with a motor in it. Following graduation from Clear Lake High School in 1970, he was formally trained as a car mechanic at Dunwoody Institute of Minneapolis. He then worked in St. Paul as a car mechanic for several years before moving back to Clear Lake/Mason City in 1975. He eventually opened his own garage, Wick's Repair, in 1983 and quickly became the mechanic of choice for many North Iowans.

Tom also loved driving and restoring antique and classic cars. One of his favorites was a 1959 seamist green Studebaker Lark with a fold-down bench seat, which he would use to take his family camping and to the old drive-in movie theater. Throughout the 90's, Tom also restored a black 1923 Model T Ford which he drove numerous times in the Clear Lake 4th of July Parade and the Mason City Music Man Festival Parade. On more than one occasion, the antique car would break down in the middle of the parade, forcing him to display his skills as a mechanic before a watching audience. He always got it back up and running with minimal delay as the rest of the parade waited patiently behind him.

One of Tom's proudest moments as a car mechanic was being called to the rescue by a mother whose little boy's head had gotten trapped in the sunroof of a Mercedes. The power window motor had failed while the boy was playing with the switch, which forced it to close down tight on his neck. Tom arrived at the scene, quickly diagnosed the problem, and rescued the boy before the Fire Department could arrive with the jaws of life. He always joked that it was not the boy's life he had ended up saving, but the car's.

Tom also collected and restored antique outboard motors, at one time owning the largest collection in North Iowa. He was also a fan of antique and wooden boats. For many years, Tom drove a bright red 1987 Porsche to which he had attached a trailer hitch in order to pull his matching colored 1951 Feathercraft speed boat. This unique sports car / boat combination won multiple "best display" awards in antique boating shows. Every time he went boating, residents of Clear Lake could hear the roar of his 1923 Evinrude outboard motor from one end of North Shore to the other. He regularly enjoyed the challenge of having to fix a broke-down outboard while stranded in the middle of the lake with nothing but a screwdriver, a matchbook, and a pair of pliers. One time he even lost his 1938 Johnson 4000 RPM to the bottom of Clear Lake and was able to recover it with a garden rake.

Throughout his life, Tom was a free spirit with a colorful sense of humor and a mechanical genius that was unmatched. Tom is survived by his son, Andy; daughter-in-law, Dara; and grandchildren, Wolf, Teddy, and Vivian who live in Rockmart, Ga.

Condolences can be sent to the family care of Ward Van Slyke Funeral Home, 310 1st Avenue North, Clear Lake, IA, 50428. No services are planned at this time.

Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel

310 1st Ave. N.

Clear Lake, IA

ColonialChapels.com

(641) 357-2193

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Globe Gazette on Aug. 23, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Wick

Sponsored by Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel.

6 Entries

Dave Beck

Earlier today

Tom was a character. I used to just stop by and chat with him, and when I had any car trouble he always got right to it. The thing I remember most was how proud he was of his son. I never met Andy but Tom would beam when he talked about him.

Becky Krause

Yesterday

Tom was the best mechanic. Him and Gary worked on many cars over the years. Tom will be missed by many. Prayers to Andy and his family.

Penny Knutson Northrup

August 23, 2025

You're knowledge and precise diagnosis of engines will ge missed. I know you and my late brother in law Gary Krause are making the heavens roar with both of your knowledge on doing what you two did best.

Darin Nederhoff

August 23, 2025

Darin Nederhoff

August 23, 2025

I still remember the first time my father and I met Tom. He was in the shop around the corner from Harley Davidson in Mason City and we were looking for someone to look after our Merkur XR4Ti. We walked in and said hello and he sort of nodded to us. Dr. Caropreso's red 911 was torn apart to the left and a variety of other eccentric cars were scattered about the small shop. Despite Tom uttering only a few words to us that day, it seemed like THE place to be.

Tom was certainly a bit eccentric and it would take a bit of time to break the ice and get to know him. Once you did get through that layer, Tom would greet you with a "What's happenin'!?" and a smile... and he had a sly sense of humor.

Having someone like Tom in Mason City made "weird" car ownership possible in North Iowa. That made a huge difference for our family and for me. Tom became a good friend and mechanic over the years. One summer he let me set up shop in the back corner of his new larger shop and proceeded to mentor me a bit as I torn apart the engine and suspension in my Audi S4 while doing major upgrades. I still own that car 25 years later and still remember that period of time fondly.

Years later I'd meet Tom for dinner at The Boathouse in Clear Lake or swing by his place to chat when I was out for a drive or cycling around the lake. He'd fill me in on work and what Andrew was up to. I can't stress this enough... Tom was incredibly proud of his son and his academic and career accomplishments. I can still see his face light up when telling me about his first job/internship.

Tom loved his Porsches... especially the transaxle cars. In fact, he loved my Porsche too. So much so that after he sold his beloved 924 S, he'd darn near beg me to sell him my red 944 turbo. I don't think I had even had it a month at that point but Tom seemed like the right guy for the car and it allowed me to jump into a 928 S4... and thus, a lesson from Tom on how to do a timing belt service on the car. I'm not a mechanic, but hanging around Tom definitely taught me enough that I still do the majority of my own work on our quirky German cars.

I could write a book of Tom stories, but in short, thanks for the kindness and guidance Tom.

Erik Lindgren

August 23, 2025

Tom was certainly a good fellow. He took care of my odd and unusual cars and many good memories going to his shop since I was a kid. I'm very sorry to hear our friend and genius has gone home to that great foreign car recycling yard in the sky full of amazing 1950s Jags and Ferraris, old VWs and Mercedes. We will all miss you Mr Wick, God Bless you and your family. My family sends our condolences from Colorado.

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