Lawrence V. "Vangie" Sticka, age 89, "Natick's #1 Fan", died peacefully on Friday, July 14, 2017, surrounded by his family. He was the devoted husband of Shirley A. (Doktor) Sticka for 61 years.
Born in Natick in 1928, he was a son of Vasil & Alexandra (Christie) Sticka. Vangie excelled in sports. He was an outstanding football player and captained the Natick High team his senior year. He joined the Natick Fire Department but his career was sidelined while he served with the US Marine Corps as a Sergeant during the Korean War. He returned to firefighting, retiring from the Department in 1985 with the rank of Lieutenant.
A tireless Natick sports fan, Vangie had been involved with the Natick Pop Warner from its start and coached for many years. A favorite of his was driving team buses for Natick High School athletes, a task he was faithful to for over 50 years. He may be best remembered for singing the "Natick Fight Song" at the start of high school games, proudly driving students to proms, and his ever ready bubble gum.
Vangie was a 50 year member of the Natick Lodge of Elks, #1425, The Tea Club and the Natick American Legion Post #107, received a place on the Natick Wall of Achievement in 1999, and four years later was inducted into the Natick High School's Athletic Hall of Fame. Vangie & Shirley enjoyed a large family reunion each Fourth of July at the Sagamore Beach home. He could regularly be found working behind the scenes at Casey's Diner if he wasn't too busy vociferously coaching the Patriots from his living room.
He is survived by Shirley, their four children, Ann Holmgren & her husband Ralph of Sagamore Beach, Sandra Callahan & her husband Dennis of Wayland, William Sticka & his wife Virginia (Foley) of Plymouth, and Daniel Sticka of Natick; seven grandchildren, Paul Holmgren, Jill Holmgren Burdett & her husband Mike, William Sticka & his wife Katie (MacDonald), Amanda Sticka Campos & her husband Sinjin, Jennifer Sticka, Jared Sticka and Alexandria Packard; four step-granddaughters, Kelly Callahan, Erin Callahan, Rylee Jackson and Teryn Brewer; great-grandchildren, Aliyana, David, Colin, Sadie and Avery; a brother, Charles Sticka of Wethersfield, CT; two brothers-in-law, Robert Sullivan of Bourne and Ted Doktor of Winfield, NJ; nieces and nephews, Darlene Wansiewicz, Gary Chandler, Jeffrey Chandler, Mike Sullivan, Greg Sticka, William Sticka, Mike Doktor, Lori LaPiana and Melissa Doktor; and his many Christie, Tutuny and Hladick cousins. He was predeceased by his sisters, Dorothea Sticka Chandler and Virginia Sticka Sullivan; his sister-in-law, Gloria Morris Sticka and his brother-in-law, Ralph Chandler.
Family and friends are welcome to his visiting hours at the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street, NATICK COMMON, on Thursday, July 20, 2017, from 3:00-8:00 PM.
His funeral service will be at the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, NATICK COMMON, on Friday, July 21, 2017, at 10:00 AM.
Interment with military honors will follow at the Dell Park Cemetery, Pond Street, Natick.
The family wishes to thank the caring staff at the Royal Wayland Nursing Home and the Fidelis Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Vi Tutuny Food Pantry, 2 Webster Street, Natick, MA 01760.