Allan R. 'Sonny' Wicklund

GILE, Wis. - Allan R. "Sonny" Wicklund, 76, formerly a long-time resident of Gile, passed away early Saturday morning, Nov. 18, 2017.

Allan was born on Jan. 28, 1941, at home in Gile during a snowstorm, a son of Allan Jalmer and Enid Unelma (Norena) Wicklund.

From 1974 to 2014, Sonny enjoyed working at the Look Up Sheltered Workshop and then at the Highline Corporation, both in Hurley.

For 20 years, he volunteered as a bell ringer for the Paavo Nurmi Marathon. It was a very special day for him. He participated in the Special Olympics.

Sonny spent many happy hours fishing, especially for muskies, on the Gile Flowage. He took great pleasure camping and fishing in northern Canada with his dad. Sonny absolutely loved watching his favorite team, the Green Bay Packers.

Allan is survived by two sisters, Diane (the late Juan "Johnny") Ponce and Janice (the late Ronald) Taylor; and nieces and nephews, Chris (David), Jenny (Jim), Dylan, Senja, Jeff, Noah, Hannah, Eric (Gail), Clint (Rebekah), Jason, Michele (Ron), Sarah and Nick.

Welcoming him home to Heaven is his twin brother, Robert, who died at birth; his parents and grandparents; and his sister, Joyce Grogan.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Nov. 24, at 3 p.m., preceded by visitation at 2 p.m., at Lakeside Memorial Chapel, 806 Putnam St., in Wakefield, Mich. The Rev. Steve Estola, pastor of Good Shepherd Community Church in Kimball, will officiate.

Interment will take place in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood, Mich.

Luncheon will be served at the Wakefield Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9084, 107 E. U.S. 2, in Wakefield after completion of the ceremony.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield. Condolences may be expressed online at lakesidememorialchapel.com.