George  Lesicko, age 91

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George  Lesicko, age 91, of New Douglas, the patriarch of Lesicko Funeral Home, died on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021 at 4:50 a.m. at the Hitz Memorial Home in Alhambra. 

A funeral mass for George Lesicko will be held on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021 at 11 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church located at 184 Livingston Ave. in Livingston with Fr. Thomas Hagstrom officiating.

Mr. Lesicko will lie in repose on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Lesicko Funeral Home located at 271 N 2nd Street in Livingston.

All coronavirus guidelines will be observed, with facial coverings or masks required.  Burial with full military honors provided by the Staunton Area Veterans Honor Guard will be in the New Douglas Cemetery in New Douglas, IL. Lesicko Funeral Home is assisting the family.

He was born on Sunday, April 6, 1930 in Livingston.  He was the youngest son of  a village blacksmith, Joseph  and Josephine  (Knize)  Lesicko. He attended the Livingston Grade School and High School and was a 1953 graduate of the College of Mortuary Science in St. Louis.

He served our country during the Korean War from 1953 to 1955.  He was a corporal with the 602nd field artillery stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  He was married to Clara  R. DeRight on Sept.15, 1956 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Panama.  She preceded him in death on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010.

Mr. Lesicko was a funeral director/embalmer, honored for 50 years of service  as a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in 2006.  He  was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Illinois Funeral Directors Association, and was a past president of the Madison County Funeral Directors Association.  George was also a past deputy coroner for Madison County. He and his wife Clara purchased Burgett Funeral Home in New Douglas  and Livingston in 1961, having provided 60 years of service to the communities.  They both were also pioneers in EMT service, receiving their training while operating Lesicko Ambulance Service from 1961 to 1976.

His memberships include the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Livingston;  member of the former St. Ubaldus Catholic Church in New Douglas, where he served as a trustee and on the finance committee.  He served as a past commander of the Tobias Bilyeu American Legion Post 710 in New Douglas, where he was a member for over 60 years.  He was currently a member of the Staunton American Legion Post 362, the New Douglas Volunteer  Fire Department, the Madison County Firefighters Association and the 3M Firefighters Association.  He was a trustee for the New Douglas Fire Protection District for over 53 years, where he served as secretary for the district.  He served as secretary for the New Douglas Cemetery.  He was a founder, trustee and secretary for the Three County Public Water District.  He also served as  past president of the New Douglas Parent-Teachers Association, treasurer and scout leader for the New Douglas Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, and was a 30-year member of the board of trustees for the Community Memorial Hospital in Staunton. 

Mr. Lesicko is survived by three sons; Jerome Lesicko (wife Kathy) of Livingston;  Gerald Lesicko (wife Julie) of Columbia; and Jeffrey Lesicko (wife Donna) of New Douglas; two granddaughters, Christine Lesicko (husband David Ma) of Columbia, MO and Chelsie Lesicko -Niermann (husband Tyler Niermann) of Maryville; and a grandson Philip Lesicko, (wife Jessee Crane) of New Douglas; sisters-in-law Mary DeRight of Port Republic, MD; and Alice Kern of Hillsboro; as well as cousins and many nieces and nephews.

George was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Josephine (Knize) Lesicko; his wife Clara Lesicko; brothers John Lesicko (wife Marie); Steve Lesicko (wife Lyda);  Frank Lesicko (wife Marie);  Joseph Lesicko (wife Fern); and Edward Lesicko (wives Esther and Lilian); a sister  Anna Marie Stoecklin (husband Roland).

Memorial contributions in memory of George Lesicko can be made to the New Douglas Cemetery Flag Pole Fund or to the Unknown Soldier Fund in New Douglas Cemetery.

To sign a guest book or leave a private condolence visit www.lesickofuneralhome.com.