Faith Fuller Wick (92) passed away peacefully with her daughter, Heidi, and son-in-law, Don, by her side on August 25, 2023 at Autumn Lane Assisted Living in Cohasset, MN. Faith was the daughter of Lillian Beck and Leland Fuller, sister of Bruce Fuller (Marilyn (Richard Harmon)), wife of Melvin Wick, mother of Timothy (Kelly Shears), Kimberly (Greg Anderson), Jonathan (Nancy Ahlgren), and Heidi (Don Hustead), aunt of Gretchen Fuller (Mark Coleman), grandmother of Seth (Kristie Malecha), Samara (Kade and Logan Kemp), Kristin Anderson (Tom Munce, Lydia and Michael), Karin Anderson (Michael-Paul Schallmo, Theodore and Benjamin), Molly (Summer), Nathan, Forest Christenson and Zoé Christenson Wick (Chris Eldridge). She is survived by her children, niece, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and predeceased by her brother Bruce and husband Melvin (Mel).

Born in Buhl, MN on September 28, 1930, Faith grew up in Mt. Iron, MN graduating in 1948. After high school she sewed at the local shirt factory; this kindled her desire to attend college. She attended Bemidji State Teacher's College and earned a two-year degree to become a kindergarten teacher. Her first jobs were in Nashwauk and then Greenway, teaching in La Prairie, Taconite and Head Start in Warba, MN. Faith rented a room in Coleraine from Eddie and Lorraine Linser, and it was during this time that Faith met Mel, Lorraine's brother. Faith and Mel married in 1953 and started their family in 1955.

Faith returned to school seeking a master's degree in special education. By attending summer programs at University of Minnesota, St. Cloud State University, Mankato State University and Bemidji State University, she completed her B.S. and M.E. degrees. In 1966 she became director of a pilot program in special education in Itasca County, the Day Activity Center. This program was cutting edge at its time with Faith advocating for its innovations, connecting community to clients, and using art as education. This program exists today as Itasca Life Options and remains a cutting-edge program focusing on art and life skills. In 1972, Faith opened Raggedy Ann and Andy Nursery School in her home in Grand Rapids, MN. Soon after, she devoted her full attention to art and design, culminating in an international career creating fairytale and historical figures in miniature, Wicket Originals, Inc.

In 1960, Faith and Mel purchased Fairyland Park, a roadside attraction in Marble, MN. It was here that Faith combined her artistic talents with her passion for children's literature. Costuming the characters in weather-proof plastic, sculpting life-sized heads in clay and making plaster castings, painting the figures, signs and settings, and designing scenes that captured the story combined her already developed talents in drawing, painting, and sewing and added a new talent: sculpting. With Faith as artistic director and Mel as bookkeeper, the business thrived with over 10,000 visitors each summer. With a decline in visitors, the park closed in 1972, kindling the start of Faith's career as a doll artist. In 1976, Faith's work was recognized by her acceptance into the National Institute of American Doll Artists (NIADA), and she was honored as Minnesota Artist Mother of the Year, traveling to Washington DC to meet President Ford and the 49 other awardees. Other awards include an Honorary Award from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, MN and Best Collectible Item for 1984 for her Jester Jack-in-the-Box from Enesco Imports Corp. Faith designed for Doll-lain Co., Dollspart, R. Dakin & Co., Effanbee Doll Corp., Silvestri (Balos) Corp., and Enesco Imports Corp. She created figures with her cottage industry based in Grand Rapids, MN as Wicket Originals and Faith Wick Creations. Two United Federation of Doll Clubs (UFDC) convention heads were created along the way: Li'l Apple for NYC's 1979 convention, modeled after her first grandchild, Seth, along with partner doll Apple Li'l, and Charles Lindbergh for St. Louis' 1981 convention. In 2005, the Judy Garland & Children's Discovery Museum, supported by donations from the Blandin Foundation and Faith Wick, created Miniature Fairyland. In 2021, that exhibit was transferred to Story Art & Museum, a Minnesota non-profit with the mission to inspire imagination, continue the tradition of sharing stories, and celebrate story-related art. In addition to the collection at Story Art & Museum, a large collection of her works lives on in Germany at the Technik Museum Sinsheim.

On Saturday, September 2, 2023 all are invited to gather and celebrate Faith's life at Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids. Visit and share from 9-11am. Memorial Service officiated by Mary Shideler at 11am. Lunch to follow. Faith's ashes will be interred next to her husband Mel at Wildwood Cemetery, Cohasset.

Donations in memory of Faith Wick can be mailed to Story Art & Museum, 1120 NW 4th St, Suite 1, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 or to Itasca Life Options, P.O. Box 20, Grand Rapids, MN 55744.

Arrangements are with the Rowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Grand Rapids, MN.  To sign the online guestbook or send condolences visit www.rowefuneralhomeandcrematory.com.