Charlie D. Sisk
Charlie D. Sisk, 80, died at Carbondale Memorial Hospital on Sunday, Nov. 27, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s, dementia and Retinitis Pigmentosa.
He was born in Anna, the son of Helen Imogene Ingersoll and Roy Reynolds Sisk.
His education included grade school in Anna and Dongola, Lincoln Junior High and University High in Carbondale and college at Southern Illinois University. He enlisted in the National Guard Reserves in Carbondale in 1957, transferred to Litchfield Unit in 1958 and was honorably discharged in 1960.
He moved to Greenville, with his parents in 1958, where he met and married Dorothy J. Thompson (Dot) on Aug. 16, 1959.
He worked as a grocery store clerk and then took a job as a salesman for DeMoulin Bros. in Greenville, selling band uniforms throughout the area and traveling from state to state.
In 1964 he took a job with Balfour Co. and Taylor Publishing Co. working with Asher and Bill Blewett. He loved his work, traveling from Mounds to Lawrenceville and working with schools in this territory. He loved what he did and the friendships he developed over the 30 years in this successful career.
He was member of Western Heights Christian Church and served as deacon, elder and song leader. He was best known for the way he sang “How Great Thou Art” and “Ring the Bells.” Once vacationing in Hawaii, that song was heard coming from a church there. A lone Japanese man was singing from his heart, with tears running down his cheeks. Mr. Sisk joined him and they finished the song together.
Survivors include his wife, Dot Sisk; three sons and their wives. Gary (Kathleen Herron) of Makanda, Stephen (Debbie Griffin) of Clarkston, Mich., and Stacey (Lisa Tarantino) of Carbondale; four grandchildren, Cameron, Rachel, Mitch and Bria; his sister, Linda (Kent) Merry of Vandalia; nieces Cathy (Scott) Hagler of Prescott Valley, Ariz., Cindy (Jim) Andrew of Corinth, Texas, and Carolyn Sisk of DeSoto; and a nephew, Carl (Dawn) Sisk of Carterville.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Roy and Helen Ingersoll Sisk; a brother, Carlton and his wife, Shirley Love Sisk; in-laws Milton and Hazel (Faudi) Thompson; a brother-in-law, Paul C. Young; and a sister-in-law, Sandy Friedenmaker Thompson.
Funeral services for Mr. Sisk were Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 11 a.m. at Crain Pleasant Grove-Murdale Funeral Home. Interment was in Pleasant Grove Memorial Park.
Memorials can be made to the Foundation for Fighting Blindness.
To view the full obituary or to leave online condolences for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.
Crain Pleasant Grove-Murdale Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.