Ruth P. Wicks, age 83, a resident of Warrenville, IL, died Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at Brighton Gardens of Wheaton.

On June 26th, 1934, Ruth Wicks was born in the town of Verdun, in Quebec province Canada. She spent the length of her childhood there with her mother and father and two older sisters. Memories she treasured were ice skating, singing with her sister for a missionary radio program on her dad's Ham radio, and going to organ recitals and concerts with her father. She would also recall missionaries from around the world coming over for lunch after church nearly every Sunday. She said these times were like food for her soul, and made a big imprint on her for the rest of her life.

Her initial ambition after high school was to become a nurse, because she said that she did not want to be just like her older sister Mary, and become a teacher. So she started nurses training but ended up switching to teaching anyway because she felt called in that direction by God. She would always refer to teaching afterwards as a calling, not a job.

1n 1958, Ruth married Paul Hess, and moved down to Wheaton, IL where they would live and have their first child, Judy. Then they moved to unincorporated Barbers Corners, soon to become Bolingbrook, where her daughter Heidi and son Stephen were born. Ruth and Paul divorced in 1976, but she and her children continued to live in Bolingbrook until 1986.

During her time in Bolingbrook, Ruth began her 30+ year career as a teacher. In 1973, she began teaching preschool children at church of the Nazarene, then started as a 1st grade teacher at Brookview elementary school. Ruth taught 1st and 2nd grade at several schools in the Bolingbrook school district but decided to go back to school at Northwestern University for a Masters Degree in Special Education. Taking classes at night, teaching by day, and somehow managing to raise her children as a single parent, Ruth completed her masters in 1978. Soon after she started what she considered the most meaningful period of her career, teaching special education. She would spend the next 25 years teaching special education.

Ruth remarried in 1986 to George Wicks, and the two of them enjoyed a happy marriage for 31 years. They were especially close companions, and among Ruth's favorite activities were short day trips to Galena and White Pines State park, plus longer trips around the country to different baseball parks. They also attended Willowcreek Community Church, and enjoyed concerts and Wheaton College and Moody Church in Chicago.

Ruth will be remembered for her devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, and her dedication to the students she felt called by God to teach for over 30 years. She received many letters from these students and her fellow teachers who appreciated her love for and commitment to them, plus the excellence she pursued. The standard she aimed for was to do her work heartily, as unto the Lord. The motto that was taped on her teacher's desk to continually remind and inspire her was "This is true greatness: to serve unnoticed and work unseen."

The family would like to thank the physicians, nurses, caregivers, and staff at Brighton Gardens whose efforts allowed her to live her last years with dignity and comfort.

She is survived by her husband, George Wicks; her son, Stephen (Karen) Hess of Aurora, IL; her daughter, Judy (Jeff) Gottesman of Murchison, TX; her step-daughters, Shelley (Matthew) Loechl of Woodridge, IL and Tamara Wicks of Madison, WI; and her grandchildren, Kayla and Abigail Hess.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Heidi Hess; her parents, Humphrey and Mary Poole; and her sisters, Mary Poole and Gladys Potter.

Services were held in Wheaton and can be seen by clicking here . Interment will follow at Assumption Cemetery in Wheaton, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Moody Global Ministries "Student Education Fund" , 820 N. LaSalle Drive, Chicago, IL 60610-3284.