Ivan Eugene Ricks Life Story

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Ivan Eugene Ricks was born in Pocatello, Idaho, on September 9, 1956, to Victor George and Belva Smith Ricks. Surrounded by his wife and family, he passed away peacefully in Roanoke, Virginia, from respiratory failure, June 14, 2021.

He was raised in Pocatello attending Bonneville Elementary, Alameda Junior High, and graduating from Highland High School in 1974. Ivan liked music when he was growing up, especially singers Neil Diamond and Olivia Newton-John. He loved trucks and all kinds of heavy-duty equipment.

When he worked as a custodian with his dad at the Western Equipment Company better known as Caterpillar he was in seventh heaven to be around and be able to look at and touch all that equipment. After graduation, Ivan began his long career as a heavy-duty equipment operator at Bucyrus Erie in Pocatello.

In 1979 he met the love of his life, Ludivinia (Lucy) Trevino, while working at the Lamb Weston potato plant in American Falls, Idaho. They were married three months later in Pocatello, August 6, 1978. Shortly after that, they relocated to Gilroy, California where they started their family. Their sons were both born in San Jose, California, Nathan in 1982 and Joshua in 1985.

Ivan and Lucy then moved to Texas where they resided until the year 2000. It was there Ivan obtained his CDL and began working as a commercial truck driver. They then made their new home in Roanoke, Virginia. Ivan was hired by Adams Construction in 2001 and operated a quad-axle dump truck until the time of his death. He loved his job and co-workers and talked about them frequently.

Ivan has always been a happy and fun-loving person. He was always easy to talk to and a good listener. He loved to cook and began honing those skills when he was a teenager. He would get up in the morning and cook himself bacon and eggs for breakfast before he went to school. He became a master of the grill and was well known by friends and family for his delectable barbeque and other food. When they needed food for a party or gathering, he would be asked to cook. He delighted in spending time with his four grandchildren and they, too, benefited from his good cooking. Hands down they considered Ivan's refried beans and cheese burritos the best over their mother Rose's or their Grandmother Lucy's. Ivan enjoyed watching football games in his spare time and he also valued the time spent with his son Nathan buying and selling cars. Ivan was an avid fisherman and loved fishing in the Snake River in Idaho. He has requested that his ashes be scattered there.

Ivan is survived by his wife Lucy, his sons, Nathan Michael ( wife Rose) Joshua Ivan, his four grandchildren, Vanessa, Tyler, Alex Donavan, and all of his siblings: Mike (JoAnn), San Jose, California, Vicki (Herb) Wallace, Pocatello, Idaho, Georgie Ann(John) Phillips, Idaho Falls, Idaho, Karalee Ricks Vore, Kuna, Idaho, Varina (Kevin) Bills, Pocatello and Dallas (Nancy), Ririe, Idaho. He was preceded in death by his parents.