Ann Marie Hicke, age 45, of Brimfield, Illinois, passed away Friday, November 20, 2020 at the OSF Richard L Owens Hospice Home in Peoria, Illinois, after a nine-year battle with colon cancer. She was surrounded by family and friends. She was born August 15, 1975, in Smithshire, Illinois, the daughter of Barbara Lafary. Ann married Matt Johnson in 1995. They later divorced. She then married David Hicke Jr. in Nevada, Missouri, on March 5, 2005.
Ann was a 1993 graduate of Southern High School in Stronghurst, Illinois, received a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Western Illinois University in 1997, and received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Illinois State University in 2008. Ann worked as a licensed social worker in the healthcare field her entire career, home health, long-term care and hospital settings, most recently at OSF Medical Group in Galesburg, Illinois. She served many years as a Human Rights Authority Council member and served diligently to ensure the rights of the elderly, disabled and disadvantaged. She was an advocate for their care, service and treatment.
Ann was passionate about family, friends, their traditions and memories. They were the center of her life and she was extremely proud of them. You could always find her attending one of their athletic or school activities. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, friend and the list goes on. She was raised around the football field, attending her uncles football games and events from infancy. She was an avid St Louis Cardinal and Dallas Cowboy fan. Most Sunday afternoons in the fall/winter, she was coaching the Cowboys from the couch, yelling at the coaching staff and players. She was also active in the Brimfield Evangelical Free Church and assisted with the AWANA program.
She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Ralph Lafary, mother Barbara Lafary and “sister” Pam Hubbard.
Ann is survived by her husband, David; her children, Parker Johnson and Pyper Hicke of Brimfield, IL; her stepchildren, Cole (Ashleigh) Hicke of East Peoria, IL and Cordt (Emily) Hicke of Auburn Hills, MI; her grandchildren, Brigham and Oliver; her grandmother, Janet Lafary of Raritan, IL; four uncles, Marty (Lisa) Lafary of Gladstone, IL, Scott (Dana) Lafary and Danny (Jennifer) Lafary, both of Stronghurst, IL, and John (Kathy) Lafary of Smithshire, IL; along with her numerous cousins and special, extended family, Nola Talbott, Tammy Martin, Chris Lung. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends and all whose lives she touched.
People may pay their respects, Wednesday November 25, 2020, from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm, followed by a service, at the Brimfield Evangelical Free Church, 11724 North Maher Road, Brimfield, IL, Pastor Don Blasing officiating. Friends may call as they desire on Saturday November 28, 2020 from 9:00 am until 1:30 pm at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Stronghurst. A graveside service will follow at 2:00 pm. Saturday in Walnut Grove Cemetery, near Media, IL. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, CDC restrictions will be observed. Face masks and Social Distancing are strongly advised. Attendance may be limited. Please visit Ann’s obituary at banksandbeals.com, to sign the guest book and leave a condolence. Memorials may be made to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance or Brimfield E-free Youth Ministries.
