Emil Sikula

WASHINGTON – Emil Sikula, 90, of 1302 Newcastle Road, Washington, IL and former long-time resident of Polo, IL, passed away at 12:07 pm Sunday, March 13, 2011 at the Washington Chrisitian Village in Washington, IL. Emil was born on December 23, 1920 in the Czech Republic, then known as Czechoslovakia. His mother, Bozena Sikula Prochazka, and step-father Franz Prochazka, preceded him in death. He married Jenny Rissmann Laumets on October 16, 1948 in Germany, and she survives. Emil is also survived by his four children, Kullike (Edward) Adams of Loudon, TN, Harry (Romelle) Sikula of Dixon, IL, Tina (Kim) Arnett of Washington, IL and Eric Sikula of Peoria, IL, six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and his wife’s niece and nephew, Karin (Stephen) Dains of Lathrup Village, MI and Peter (Linda) Aabram of Parker, CO. Emil left Czechoslovakia in 1941 to work as a baker in Augsburg, Germany. Following the end of World War II in 1945, he worked various jobs, including for the American Red Cross, in Frankfort and other American-occupied zones of Germany until he, his wife, and Kullike arrived in the United States, on April 4, 1950, having been sponsored by St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Polo. Emil retired in 1986 from Ludwig Milk Company in Dixon, IL, where he had worked 14 years. Prior to that, he had worked as a baker for 20 years at Snow White Bakery and Phillip’s Bakery in Dixon. While living in Polo, he was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, the Polo Senior Citizens Center, and the Estonian House in Chicago. He thoroughly enjoyed playing golf at Emerald Hill Golf Course in Sterling for almost 20 years and bowling in Dixon’s Plum Hollow Senior Bowling League for 22 years. In August of 2008, he and Jenny moved to Supportive Living of Washington. Emil will be remembered fondly as a gentleman who always put his family first and a survivor with an incredible work ethic. A funeral service will be held at 11 am Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington. Pastor Jim Gorby will officiate. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Cremation rites will be accorded following the service and inurnment will be at Fairmount Cemetery in Polo at a later date. Memorials may be made to Washington Christian Village or Supportive Living of Washington. Emil’s memorial website is available at www.deitersfuneralhome.com where condolences may also be sent to the family.

Emil Sikula

December 23, 1920 - March 13, 2011