The Passing of an Ordinary Guy and a Hero

Two local deaths have caught my attention lately. One was what you might call an ordinary guy. We called him "Hug" -- Hug Lickert, but his official name was Howard W. Lickert. Here is an excerpt from his obituary:

"LICKERT HOWARD W. "HUG" LICKERT, age 89, beloved husband of the late Louise (nee Kaller); dear father of Mary-Lousie (John) Rusek, Rose-Ann (Victor) Leo and Jennie-Jo (Steve) Tuckerman; brother of Jack and Robert Lickert and Dorothy Lotoski. W.W.II Army Sgt. in the 236th Engineer Combat Battalion (serving in China and Burma from 1943-1945. He was an usher at St. William Church and an umpire for Euclid Boy's League."


I remember Hug from as far back as 1957, when he refereed our 4th grade touch football games at St. William's, in Euclid, Ohio. Hug umpired and refereed everything. He must have loved sports and loved kids (he had three girls of his own). I also remember Hug ushering at St. William's masses; I can't imagine how many years he did this.

Hug Lickert, unknown to me, was a kind of war hero, though he probably would have squirmed at the term. He served in China and Burma during the Second World War--and was probably happy to get back to an "ordinary" domestic life in Euclid. He did a lot for his community and his church; Hug Lickert was no ordinary man!

The other death that came to my attention was the loss of Major Michael S. Evarts from Concord Township in Lake County, Ohio. Here are excerpts from the Plain Dealer obituary of Major Evarts:

MAJOR MICHAEL S. EVARTS
EVARTS MAJOR MICHAEL S. EVARTS, age 41, of Concord Twp., a U.S. Army Veteran, passed away Jan. 17, 2011 in Tikrit, Iraq. Mr. Evarts was a pharmaceutical sales specialist for Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals. He was also a 17 year member of the United States Army as a reservist who had been called to serve his country on two separate deployments. Major Evarts served as an executive officer with the 256th combat support hospital in Iraq working during Operation New Dawn. Loving husband of Monique Evarts (nee Telencio). Beloved father of Zachary and Lukas Evarts. Dear son of Bill and Marylyn Evarts. Brother of Daniel (Tray) Evarts and Paisley (Stephan) Frishholz. Son-in-law of Myron and Donna Telencio. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and other family members. Funeral Mass 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 9925 Johnnycake Ridge Rd., Concord Twp., OH. The family will receive friends FROM 3-8 P.M. THURSDAY AND 3-8 P.M. FRIDAY AT THE BRUNNER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, 8466 MENTOR AVE., MENTOR, OH. Interment at Mentor Cemetery, Mentor, OH. In lieu of flowers and other heartfelt offerings, contributions may be made to the "Major Michael S. Evarts Memorial & Boys Trust', 60 W. Southington Ave., Worthington, OH 43085. www.brunners.com

This past Monday I waited, along with about 30 other people, as Major Evarts' body was brought to Brunner Funeral Home. I thought about his huge sacrifice, the loss to his wife, his kids, his parents, and his entire family and friends. Our discomfort on that bitter cold day was nothing compared with Major Evarts' huge sacrifice.

This hero will not be forgotten.