Timothy Jon Sickels was born September 29, 1949, the son of Kenneth and Fern Catherine (Dory) Sickels in Adair County, Iowa. He passed away Sunday, March 1, 2026, at his home in Thornton Colorado at the age of 76 years, 5 months.
Tim attended Bridgewater-Fontanelle Community School District and graduated in 1967. He married Janice Lahey on July 3, 1967. To this union two children were born, Thad and Jennifer. Tim and Jan later divorced in 1983.
Tim worked for Sickels and Grantham Construction Company for a year directly out of high school. In 1968 he began his lifelong career as a carpenter. He worked for A&D Cabinet Company from 1968 to 1971. On January 1, 1972, Tim opened his own business, Sickels Building and Supply. He built several homes, kitchen remodels, and various construction projects in the Adair County area. In 1983 he closed the business and moved to Denver, Colorado. He lived a short time with his aunt, Peg Beachler and started working for Trim Craft, Inc. For 25 years he led a crew of three interior trim carpenters. He specialized in hanging interior doors, fireplace mantles, and was especially proud of the curved stair railings that were the centerpiece of many of the homes. It is unknown the number of homes he completed during those 25 years, but as he said many times over, it’s not work when you love what you are doing.
Tim enjoyed cooking, especially for family and friends. He liked his kitchen gadgets and worked tirelessly to replicate his mother’s baked beans.
Tim had a love for fishing. Highlights included trips to Leech Lake with Dale Dwyer, Canada fishing with his Fontanelle friends, and most recently his fishing trip last summer catching crappie and blue gill with his great granddaughter, Jordyn.
Tim loved the opening weekend of Iowa pheasant hunting. It was not necessarily about the hunting, rather it was reuniting with his cousins from Arkansas and the many different guests that accompanied them over the years.
Tim loved to tell stories and jokes and found humor in most everything. He treasured the time he spent with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He enjoyed connecting with his classmates and Fontanelle friends over Facebook. Tim liked to have fun and build relationships with all those he met over the years; either in work or play, he loved us all.
Tim was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth Sickels and Fern Sickels; his sister Penny Veatch; brother-in-law, Harold Veatch; and nephews, Chuck Sickels and Jeff Veatch.
He is survived by his brother KJ (Ardith) Sickels; his two children, Thad (Sandi) Sickels of Creston; Jennifer (Toby) Trujillo of Superior, Colorado; five grandchildren, Hunter (Tayler) Sickels of Creston, Gavin Sickels (Special friend Riley Delancy) of Crossville, Illinois; Anna, Evan, and Ryan Trujillo of Superior, Colorado; two great granddaughters, Jordyn and Brooklyn Sickels of Creston; and many other nieces, nephews, and friends.
Celebration of Life Services: Services for Tim Sickels will be held at Salem Lutheran Church in Creston, Iowa, on Saturday March 28, 2026 at 11:00 am with family greeting friends after the service. The Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.
