David Eugene Wicks

1962 - 2016

David Eugene Wicks

Burney, CA

David Eugene Wicks of Burney died tragically Wednesday, December 21, 2016, in Burney, California.

Dave was born January 18, 1962, in Carson City, Nevada. He spent his whole life in Northern California and in the Reno-Carson City area.

At a very young age he picked up a guitar and learned to play. Music became a big part of his life. Actually, he spent much of his adult life employed in the entertainment field.

At a very young age Dave also began a search for God. He attended church as a youth, even when other members of his family were not. His search for God continued into his adult life when he went from church to church looking for something that made sense to him, something he could really believe in. In fact, at one point in his 20's he became depressed when his search for God in various churches left him empty.

Back to Dave's music. He was playing music at the Rex Club in Burney in October, 2000. That's where he met Sonja. She was to become the love of his life. A relationship developed and they were married in February, 2002.

Back to Dave's search for God. Sonja had been receiving visits from Jehovah's Witnesses in their door-to-door ministry. Dave answered the door and he liked what he heard. By early 2005 Dave and Sonja were having a regular Bible study with Jehovah's Witnesses in their home. Dave finally found what he had been looking for. He could live forever in paradise on earth. He could see his dead loved ones resurrected to life right here on earth. He found a religion who answered all of his questions right from the Bible.

Dave's life changed. His appearance changed as well as the life style common in the entertainment world. Dave became a happier person. He and Sonja were baptized as Jehovah's Witnesses in 2006. Dave began sharing his new-found faith with his neighbors. Dave did this primarily in the door-to-door ministry of Jehovah's Witnesses. Dave loved to be with people and meet strangers and this part of his personality served him well in his ministry work.

Dave touched the hearts of everyone he met with his friendly smile and infectious personality whether it was through his public ministry, his music or his secular work. Dave had a knack for remembering names and this served him well as he interacted with people. No one was a stranger to Dave.

Dave was a giving person, often offering to help others with a variety of needs. Dave had a motto: "view people as God views them." That view showed in how Dave treated others.

Dave was preceeded in death by his brother, Michael Miller.

Dave is survived by his wife, Sonja, and his mother, Karen Deriso, and sons, Justin and David Wicks, and daughter Megan Wicks, stepdaughter, Yvonne Hand, and grandchildren.

Dave is also survived by twin sisters Jennifer and Jessica Deriso, Uncle Richard and Linda Bacon, and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial service for Dave Wicks will be held at the Burney Senior High School Gymnasium on Saturday, January 21, at 2 p.m.

Anyone wishing to help Sonja with expenses may do so through a "Go Fund Me" account on-line or at the USBank in Burney.

Please sign the guest book at http://obits.redding.com