Eilene Lillian (Maier) Sickmiller was born August 28, 1922 on the Alex Haines farm west of Montpelier to Clinton and Edith (Haines) Maier and peacefully went to her heavenly home on Nov 2, 2014 in Leo, Indiana just outside of Fort Wayne. She was a member of the graduating Class of 1940 of Montpelier High School and attended many of the reunions in recent years. In February 1944 Eilene graduated from the Fort Wayne International Business College, completing the Secretarial Course and excelled in shorthand and typing.
Eilene married Richard James “Jim” Sickmiller of West Unity, Ohio on Aug 16, 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2006 they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at First Lutheran Church in Bryan, Ohio where they were life-long members. Eilene was a fifth-generation Lutheran, serving a term as church financial secretary and president of the Women’s Group. For sixty years she and Jim lived in Bryan, Ohio and worked together in the cost department at the ARO Corporation for over 35 years. They were blessed a son, Richard J. “Rick” and a daughter Ronda.
Eilene was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Pauline Brannan, and her husband, Jim, in 2006. Those left with hearts full of treasured thoughts and memories of Eilene are her son Rick (MaLisa) Sickmiller of Friendswood, Texas and her daughter, Ronda (Dave) Roose of Fort Wayne, Indiana; also, grandchildren Jennifer (Tracy) Chrestman of Byhalia, Mississippi, Amanda (Derek) Hogan of New Braunfels, Texas, and Kenneth Eyster of Auburn, Indiana, and seven great-grandchildren Emmalee Grace Owen and MaKenna Faith Hogan, Elisa Jane and Tracie Lynne Chrestman, Kayla Marie, Alexa Jane, and Ethan James Eyster.
Family and friends will gather for a time of sharing favorite memories on Saturday, November 8 from 10 am to 1 pm at Thompson-Geesey Funeral Home, 335 Empire Street in Montpelier. A service celebrating Eilene’s 92 years will take place following the visitation at 1PM, concluding with interment next to her husband in Riverside Cemetery, Montpelier. Pastor Richard N. Franks of Bryan First Lutheran Church will officiate. Charitable donations may be made in Eilene’s name to the First Lutheran Church of Bryan, Ohio.
The staff of Thompson-Geesey Funeral Home considers it a privilege and an honor to care for the family and friends of Eilene L. Sickmiller. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.thethompsonfuneralhome.com
