Willard "Bill" Sickles

Willard "Bill" Sickles, 68, of Falls Twp., died Monday, after a two-year battle with leukemia. He is survived by his wife and best friend, Gail (Noreika), with whom he shared a beautiful marriage for more than 42 years. Bill was a good and decent man, and will be sadly missed.

Born June 29, 1953, in Montgomery County, Bill was the son of the late Richard and Beverly (Tuckfield) Sickles. He was a graduate of Upper Dublin High School and the Pennsylvania State University, receiving a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He formerly worked as an engineer for American LaFrance Fire Apparatus and Acker Drill Company. As an engineer for InterMetro Industries Corporation since 1982, he holds over a dozen patents. A licensed professional engineer, Bill was a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Bill was active as a volunteer firefighter, and was a state-certified Firefighter I. He was a former member of the Fort Washington Fire Company and a 43-year member of the Lake Winola Fire Company, where he held the offices of Fire Lieutenant, Safety Captain, Treasurer, Relief Association Treasurer, and Vice-President. He achieved the honor of Life Member status with the Lake Winola Fire Co.

An active community volunteer, Bill also served as a board member for the Humane Society of Wyoming County and was chairman of the Falls Twp. Planning Commission. He was a member of St. Mary of the Lake Church, Lake Winola.

Bill loved the outdoors, and was an accomplished cross-country skier. He enjoyed hiking, biking, fly fishing, his New Holland tractor, and was a devoted Penn State football fan. He and Gail completed their first half-marathon in 2019.

Special thanks are offered to those who were so supportive during these last trying months, especially cousins Linda and Philip and friend Beth, and to brother David who was Bill's stem cell donor.

Bill also is survived by brother David (wife Cathy) of Quakertown, mother-in-law Catherine Noreika, sister-in-law Janet Shaw (husband Bill), godparents Phil and Florence Ryan, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, animal companions Harper, Skooter, Jaxon and Mookie, and many wonderful friends.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his stepmother, Rosemary Sickles, aunts, uncles, cousins, and his beloved longtime canine companion, Cooper.

The family will receive friends Friday 5 to 8 p.m. at the Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Services Inc., 111 Colburn Ave., Clarks Summit. Attendees are asked to please wear a mask for the safety of others. Interment and committal service by the Rev. Patrick Albert, pastor, St. Mary's of the Lake, will be at the convenience of family.

Memorial donations can be made to the Humane Society of Wyoming County, P.O. Box 478, Tunkhannock, PA 18657, or the Lackawanna River Conservation Association, 2043 N. Main Ave., Scranton, PA 18508, or please simply extend a kindness to someone in Bill's remembrance.