Doreen Donna Sycks

Doreen Donna (Gilster) Sycks, 89, of Backus, MN, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, at home, peacefully and surrounded with love.

Doreen grew up near Nimrod, the daughter of Alfred and Evelyn Gilster, the older sister of Harold and Larry. She graduated from Sebeka High School in 1954. She met the first love of her life, Rollin "Chum" Sycks, during her senior year, and they were married Oct. 23, 1954. They settled in Backus, where they raised their daughters, Cheryl Ulicki and Twyla Brown.

Doreen worked for the US Postal Service for many years, most of them as postmaster in Backus. She was very creative, an excellent seamstress and quilter, but she excelled in the Norwegian art of Hardanger embroidery. If you are lucky, you've been blessed with one of her handmade treasures.

She enjoyed traveling. Doreen and Chum saw such wonderful places as Australia, New Zealand, Panama, Costa Rica and took several trips to Alaska - their personal favorite. After Chum's death in 2009, Doreen was lucky enough to meet the second love of her life, Gordon "Gordy" Ford. Those two were unstoppable; they danced, traveled, explored, and just generally did whatever they wanted.

Doreen was devoted to her family, and we never ever had to wonder if we were loved.

The family rejoiced that Doreen is in heaven with her Savior; "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as her dear friend, Gordy Ford. She also leaves behind many cousins, nieces, nephews and treasured friends.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 25 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Backus, with visitation the hour prior. A visitation will also be held from 4  to 6 p.m. Nov. 24 at the church.

Arrangements are entrusted to Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Pine River.