Gordon Wallace Fick was born February 1, 1936 in Fargo, ND, to a large family that included five brothers and two sisters. He grew up in Fergus Falls, MN, where he enjoyed playing basketball and working on his uncle’s farm. At the age of seventeen he took a job as a clerk at Fergus Lumber and Fuel, the start of a career in the industry that would last sixty-six years.
Gordy married Phyllis Johnson. To this union six children were born, Brenda (Fick) Campbell, Brian Fick, Jana Fick, Jonathan Fick, David Fick and Douglas Fick.
He next married Marlys Tonder, becoming a step-father to her children, Scott Oien, Beth (Oien) Pearson, Danette Oien and David Oien. From this marriage was born Jill (Fick) Bisker and Robert Gordon Fick who sadly passed shortly after birth. Gordy and Marlys were married until her death in 2008.
He then married Jeanne Wikstrom in 2011, joining the Fawn Doe Rosa family and becoming a step-father to her children, Scott Hansen, Terri (Hansen) Larson, and Tammi (Hansen) Hasselquist.
Gordy loved children, and his extended family allowed him the joy of twenty-four grandchildren and twenty-six great-grandchildren.
He was a successful businessman and owner of St. Croix Valley Hardwoods in Luck, WI, which he founded in 1981 after building his career at Lavelle Lumber Company in Moorhead, Industrial Lumber in Minneapolis, and Lake Elmo Hardwood Lumber in Lake Elmo, MN. Over time, St. Croix Valley Hardwoods employed up to two hundred employees and included locations in Luck and Siren, WI, and White Bear Lake, MN. Gordy was known to be honest, hardworking, and caring of his employees, while always having a great sense of humor and a ‘fantastic’ outlook on life.
He was supportive of the local community and always believed in giving back to those around him. He served as Mayor of Luck and also as a city council member.
Gordy loved wildlife and the outdoors, and built a cabin in Backus, MN, on Long Lake #2. The ‘cabin’ soon expanded to include seven bedrooms, multiple outbuildings, a fish pond, and fire pit. The family enjoyed hiking, snowmobiling, boating, fishing, bocce and croquet. The cabin was a beloved gathering place for family and friends, and there are many memories shared by the extended family.
In addition to running a lumber company, Gordy was a skilled craftsman who built beautiful cabinets, furniture, bookshelves, jewelry boxes, a kayak, and other treasured items.
Although Gordy lived in Minnesota for a large part of his life, he was always a Packers fan, which led to many good-natured debates with the Vikings fans around him.
Gordy suffered a heart attack on April 21, 2019, Easter Sunday, from which he did not awake. He passed peacefully on April 24th, surrounded by family.
Funeral services will be held at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 561 Chestnut St., Taylors Falls, MN, on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, at 11AM. Visitation will be held at the Rowe Funeral Home in Luck on Tuesday, April 30th from 4 to 7PM and again one hour prior to the service at church on Wednesday.
You are invited to leave condolences, memories and photos at
www.rowefh.com . Arrangements are entrusted to Rowe Funeral Home, 715-472-2444.
