Denzil R. “Jack” Hicks, 91, of Sweet Springs, MO, died Monday, January 12, 2026, at Meyer Care Center in Higginsville, MO.
A memorial visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home in Sweet Springs. Memorials are suggested to the Sweet Springs Baseball Team. An online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com
Born February 4, 1934, in Macks Creek, MO, Jack was the son of the late Alvin Evert Hicks and Effie Olivia Green Hicks. Jack was a 1952 graduate of Macks Creek High School. On July 26, 1952, Jack married Adeline Downs in Hermitage, MO and began to build a life together. Jack would soon go to work for Kansas City Power & Light where, after 38 honorable years of employment, he would retire. He was an avid St Louis Cardinals fan and loved dirt track racing but was happiest surrounded by family. Jack and Adeline could often be found enjoying the casino or playing bingo. Jack was a member of the Sweet Springs Lions Club and the Sweet Springs Methodist Church. Jack volunteered countless hours with the upkeep of the Sweet Springs City Park and baseball fields and helped coach basketball and baseball summer programs in Sweet Springs. Jack’s life of service to others would not stop after retirement where, alongside his late-friend Joe, he never missed an opportunity to help his son Kevin with the maintenance of the baseball fields he coached on.
Survivors include his children: Linda Hicks Evans of Concordia and Kevin Hicks (Julie) of Sweet Springs; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Adeline Hicks on October 27, 2021; son, Robert Craig Hicks; granddaughter, Ralinda Fiene; two brothers, Kenneth and Len Hicks; and five sisters: Fordia Glanville, Fern Schultz, Lorene Simmons, Irene Huber and Reva Dubbins.
Source: KMZU, The Farm
