Stark County Veterans of the Year honored for remembering those who served

Ed Balint, The Repository
·2 min read
2022 Veteran of the Year Gary Ickes smiles as Larry Glasgow, past commander of Ohio's 10th District of the American Legion, presents his award at the Greater Canton Veterans Service Council's Veterans Day ceremony at American Legion Post 44 in Canton.
2022 Veteran of the Year Gary Ickes smiles as Larry Glasgow, past commander of Ohio's 10th District of the American Legion, presents his award at the Greater Canton Veterans Service Council's Veterans Day ceremony at American Legion Post 44 in Canton.
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CANTON − Roxanne Teis recalled when her late husband Bradley would hurry to go visit military veterans who were in hospice with only hours to live.

She joined him on one of those trips. The couple had dinner plans, but those would have to wait. Roxanne waited in the vehicle, but she respected and appreciated her spouse's dedication for helping and comforting those who had served their country.

"It was his passion," she said. "He spent a lot of time with veterans and veterans' organizations."

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At a Veterans Day ceremony at American Legion Post 44 on Friday, Bradley A. Teis and Gary L. Ickes were honored by the Greater Canton Veterans Service Council as Veterans of the Year.

The event was among many throughout Stark County honoring veterans.

John Ley, commander of the American Legion of Stark County, hugs Roxanne Teis, who received an honor for her late husband, Bradley Teis. He was recognized posthumously as 2022 Veteran of the Year. The honor was presented by the Greater Canton Veterans Service Council at a Veterans Day ceremony at American Legion Post 44 in Canton.
John Ley, commander of the American Legion of Stark County, hugs Roxanne Teis, who received an honor for her late husband, Bradley Teis. He was recognized posthumously as 2022 Veteran of the Year. The honor was presented by the Greater Canton Veterans Service Council at a Veterans Day ceremony at American Legion Post 44 in Canton.

Bradley Teis was honored posthumously while Ickes was in attendance with his wife, Tina.

Teis, 68, died Aug. 3. Ickes, 78, has been battling health problems since September 2021. He had COVID followed by a stroke.

More:Stark County men to receive 'Veteran of the Year' distinction Nov. 11

Drafted in 1965,  Ickes served two years in the Army and served as an instructor in Germany.

Ickes served as executive director of the Stark County Veterans Service Commission, a position he left in 2017.

2022 Veteran of the Year Gary Ickes smiles as Larry Glasgow, past commander of Ohio's 10th District of the American Legion, presents his award at the Greater Canton Veterans Service Council's Veterans Day ceremony atAmerican Legion Post 44 in Canton.
2022 Veteran of the Year Gary Ickes smiles as Larry Glasgow, past commander of Ohio's 10th District of the American Legion, presents his award at the Greater Canton Veterans Service Council's Veterans Day ceremony atAmerican Legion Post 44 in Canton.

Teis was an active member of American Legion Post 44 in Canton, and he had been elected state commander for the organization before he died from a heart attack.

Teis served four years in the Navy, from 1975 to 1979, before he went to work for the Hoover Co. in North Canton.

Teis co-founded a program with Aultman Hospital to visit veterans in nursing homes and hospice care and talk to them and console them.

John P. Ley, commander of the American Legion in Stark County, presented the award to Roxanne Teis.

Ley said Teis and Ickes worked together over many years helping veterans.

Larry Glasgow, past commander of Ohio's American Legion District 10, presented the honor to Ickes.

McKinley High School's Junior Army ROTC performs the honor guard presentation of Colors at the Greater Canton Veterans Service Council's Veterans Day ceremony on Friday at American Legion Post 44 in Canton.
McKinley High School's Junior Army ROTC performs the honor guard presentation of Colors at the Greater Canton Veterans Service Council's Veterans Day ceremony on Friday at American Legion Post 44 in Canton.

Glasgow told those gathered at the ceremony how Ickes went to great lengths to serve veterans, including visiting 65 American Legion posts in nine counties.

Following the event, Tina Ickes said her husband's travels on behalf of veterans meant he sometimes missed supper or it was served late. "But I understand the importance of what he was doing," she said.

Also making remarks at Friday's Veterans Day event were Canton Mayor Thomas Bernabei, state Sen. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township, and Matt Slater, director of development for Family & Community Services.

Darren Teis bows his head during an invocation at the Greater Canton Veterans Service Council's Veterans Day ceremony at American Legion Post 44 in Canton, where his family member, Bradley Teis, was posthumously honored as one of two 2022 Veteran of the Year recipients.
Darren Teis bows his head during an invocation at the Greater Canton Veterans Service Council's Veterans Day ceremony at American Legion Post 44 in Canton, where his family member, Bradley Teis, was posthumously honored as one of two 2022 Veteran of the Year recipients.

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com

On Twitter @ebalintREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County veterans honored for tirelessly helping those who served