Calvin Wayne Minnick, Sr.

Calvin Wayne Minnick, Sr.

1945 – 2023

Calvin Wayne Minnick Sr, 78, of Edmond Oklahoma passed away July 14, 2023 in Edmond Oklahoma at his home. Calvin was born to Helen (Troutman) Minnick and John Minnick on July 11, 1945.

Calvin attended AO Marshall Grade School and the Gompers Junior High in Joliet, Illinois. The family then moved to New Lenox, Illinois where, well let’s just say high school was not in Calvin’s cards. He quit after 1 day. He decided he was going to work from that point on. He worked for the steel manufacturer for awhile until age 16 where he got a job driving dump trucks for Brown and Lambert where he joined the Teamsters union. Calvin then left home for a stint working on building I-80 going west of Illinois. He would return home every once in a while, to drop money off for his parents. That was thing about Calvin. He always wanted to help people in need as he grew up poor and knew how hard it was. Calvin had 5 brothers (Glen, Kenny, Bob, John, and Roy) and 4 sisters (Jackie, Judy, Debbie, and Denise) which his parents had to raise. At some point there in the late sixties he had a best friend named Jay that had Leukemia and he had to take him the Pennsylvania for a treatment and that’s where he met the love of his life Madge Adams. By the way he explained it she followed him back Illinois and moved right down the street from his parents and just showed up at their house one day. It wasn’t long when they got married on October 7, 1967. Then had 2 sons Calvin Wayne Jr in 1968 and Daniel Arthur in 1970. Calvin then became a self-taught by trial-and-error home builder and electrician. This worked out great as most all his brothers and father where in the trades too. He would sub out to the 3 painters, his dad, Glen, and Bob were painters, and Roy was the plumber. Calvin then took that and started several businesses in the 70’s. Minnick Lighting a light fixture store, and Minnick Carpet. All the while trying to help family out and friends. That was his nature always to help. The 70s economy went south, and he was forced to make a decision and he decided to move. Calvin ended up in Mustang, Oklahoma where he worked as an electrician for several companies until he landed at Western Electric (Att/Lucent) where he retired after 30 years at the age of 57. He was a union man. Teamsters and International Brotherhood of Electrical workers all his life. Then in the 80s Calvin became a devoted Mason and was a member of the Wheatland, Oklahoma lodge. He really enjoyed the Mason brotherhood and really enjoyed the fact of the giving to the community and to the Children’s Hospital.

Calvin’s passion was being outdoors. He loved to mess around in the yard and the shop. His most beloved passion was spending time with his grandchildren whom he loved immensely, all 8 of them and 1 great grandchild. He sure could tell a good story. Some true, and well maybe some who knows. 😊 Retirement was a good option for Calvin and Madge as they loved to go to different places. The 2 of them loved going to Cubs games and the pre-season work outs.  Calvin could watch baseball 24 hours a day.

Calvin is survived by his 2 brothers and wives, Roy and Nancy Minnick of New Lenox Illinois, John and Terry Minnick of Joliet Illinois, his 3 sisters Judy and Ron Fowler Shorewood Illinois, Debbie and Mike Buske of New Lenox, Denise Johnson of Atlanta Georgia, and Leanne Minnick of New Lenox Illinois. Calvin’s 2 sons and their wives, Calvin and Michelle Minnick of Cashion Oklahoma, Danny and Pam Minnick of Edmond, Oklahoma. By his 8 grandchildren Blake Minnick, Casey Minnick, Dalton Minnick, Calvin Minnick III, Carson Hamon, Ashlen Hamon, Makenzy and Josh Sanders, and his 1 great grandchild Hank Sanders. As well as numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins. He was proceeded in death by his parents John and Helen Minnick, his wife Madge Minnick, his sister and brother in law  Jackie and Ed Lehner, his brothers and sister in laws Glen and Helen Minnick, Kenny and Helen Minnick, and Bob and Jerry Minnick.

Services will be held Thursday, July 20, 2023, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Matthews Funeral Home Chapel. We will be live streaming this service in an effort to accommodate those people that wish to attend but are not able to.  To watch the service CLICK HERE to go to our YouTube page. Click on ‘Videos’, then ‘Live Streams’.