Lawrence George "Larry" Gicker

Lawrence George "Larry" Gicker, of Bear, DE, passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2026, after a battle with mesothelioma, after 84 years well lived.

Born in Bear, DE on September 1, 1941, he was a son of the late Jacob Allen and Edythe E. (Suppe) Gicker. Larry was a highly skilled millwright and worked for various companies including F&M Scientific, Hewlett Packard, Alloy Surfaces, Stauffer Chemical and DuPont, where he eventually retired.

Larry's life was one of service to his community and he volunteered countless hours to helping his fellow neighbor. He was a member of the Delaware City Lions Club since 1964 and served as Club President five times. Larry was also chairman of the Delaware Lions Club for 10 years. He was a member of the Delaware City Fire Company for 13 years. Larry served on the Planning Commission for the town of Delaware City and was a councilman from 1974-1978. He joined the Jackson Masonic Lodge # 19 in 1968 and became Master of the Lodge in 1976. He was a member of Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Delaware City for over 60 years. Larry was a Lay Leader and served on many committees at the church including their famous Ham & Oyster Dinners, which he patted many an oyster! Most recently, he attended St. Daniels United Methodist Church in Port Penn.

Larry was a gifted athlete; he was ambidextrous and could bat with either hand. He attended Colorado State University to be a pitcher and play for their baseball team. Over the years, Larry loved to play golf and could shoot his age up until right before he got sick at age 82. He was a member of the DuPont Country Club for 20 years and played in many tournaments and matches. Larry was a member of the Middletown Senior Golf League and thoroughly enjoyed his teammates and playing the game. He was a member of the Delaware City Recreational Club for 40 years and was their number one bowler up until age 82.- "I was always on the team to beat!"

He loved to challenge anyone to a game of corn-hole or ping pong and 9 times out of 10, he usually beat them! Larry was an avid Philadelphia sports fan. He loved watching the Eagles and the Phillies especially, but would pretty much watch any sport on TV.

Larry's other passion was his beloved garden. He truly had a green thumb and could make anything grow and taste delicious. The lima beans he grew were legendary and friends and family couldn't wait until his beans were ready to be harvested.

Larry was fondly referred to as a unicorn; he could build, grow, fix, make, care for and nurture almost anything. His skills and wealth of knowledge were readily shared and will be sorely missed. Larry Gicker –dad, poppop, pop, poppa - may your light and life live on forever.

In addition to his parents, Larry was preceded in death by his siblings, Jacob Gicker and Gary Gicker; bonus son, Robert Wessell; and bonus grandson, Billy Wessell. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Rebecca R. Gicker; daughter, Beth Gicker Stansell (Steve) of North Carolina; son, Dan Gicker (Nadia) of Oregon; 4 grandchildren; siblings, Barbara Schofield and David Gicker; bonus sons, Art Wessell (Colleen), Mitchell Wessell (Tracey), Mark Wessell (Donna) and Clay Wessell (Patti), and their families; 12 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 11 am until 12 pm on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at St. Daniel's United Methodist Church, 10 Stewart Street, Port Penn, DE, where a memorial service will begin at 12 pm. A reception will follow in the Delaware City Fire Company Hall, 815 5 th Street, Delaware City, DE. Inurnment will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Larry's memory to Delaware City Lions Club, P.O. Box 338, Delaware City, DE 19706.