Rev. Harold E. Wicke

Sun Prairie - Rev. Harold E. Wicke, age 96, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 1, 2008, at the  Sterling House, Sun Prairie.  He was born on July 12, 1912, in Kirchhaeyn, Town of Jackson, Wisconsin, the son of Henry and Eleonora (Toepel) Wicke.  Pastor Wicke was united in marriage to Thekla Hanke on October 23, 1940, in Hortonville, Wisconsin.  He was a called and ordained minister for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and served WELS churches as minister in Hortonville, Weyauwega and Watertown.  He also served the synod as an editor at the Northwestern Publishing House in Milwaukee.   He was a resident of Sun Prairie since his retirement in 1981. After his retirement he served as interim and substitute pastor at various WELS churches.    Pastor Wicke is survived by Thekla, his wife of 68 years, his daughter Ann (Robert) Swanson and son Timothy (Judy) Wicke, all of Sun Prairie; his grandchildren Kara (Jon) Sieg, Madison, David Swanson (Jennifer Koves) of Jeffersonville, Indiana, Amelia (Alan) Bogle of New Berlin, and Matthew Wicke, Sun Prairie; nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents,  brothers Roland and Hugo, and sisters Veronica and Cornelia.  Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2008, at 12:00 at Eastside Lutheran Church, 2310 Independence Lane, Madison, with Rev. Glen F. Schmiege officiating.  Burial will be at the Lutheran Cemetery in Watertown.  Visitation will be held Wednesday at the church from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service.  A reception will follow the service at the church.  Memorials would be appreciated to HospiceCare or Eastside Ev. Lutheran Church, Madison.   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Cress Funeral & Cremation Service 1310 Emerald Terrace Sun Prairie, WI www.cressfuneralservice.com