Submitted by: Dan Rich
South Bend Tribune 2/26/1998
July 9, 1902 - Feb. 24, 1998
MISHAWAKA - Gertrude M. Bickel, 95, departed this life on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at Countryside Place, Mishawaka, Ind.
She had lived on East Edgar Street in Mishawaka for more than 55 years. She was born on July 9, 1902, in Putnam County, Ohio, coming to Mishawaka at the age of four.
As Gertrude Palmer, she married Charles A. Bickel on June 21, 1919, in St. Joseph, Mich. He preceded her in death on July 1, 1980. She was also preceded in death by a son, Charles in 1968; and by a grandson, Michael in 1959.
Mrs. Bickel is survived by a son, David (Terry) Bickel of Silver Lake, Ohio; two daughters, Elsie (Raymond) Ramsey of Mishawaka and Barbara (Russell) Hoffman of South Bend, Ind.; and by a daughter-in-law, Mary Lou Bickel of Sun City, Calif.
She also leaves behind 12 grandchildren, Gail Comegys of Mishawaka, Martha Woodruff of Osceola, Ind., Sandra Lisi of Elkhart, Ind., Mark Hoffman of Cassopolis, Mich., Paul Hoffman of Danbury, Conn., Charles Bickel, Laura Smith and Dana Cianciola, all of Ohio, Valarie Almand, Pamela Norman and Debra Wilkens, all of California, and Kenneth Bickel of Colorado; 22 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Gertrude was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Mishawaka. As a homemaker she was active in the United Methodist Women (Women's Society of Christian Service), the Dorcas Class, and was a charter member of the Bendix Legion Post Auxiliary.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday in the First United Methodist Church, Mishawaka, with Rev. Don Carpenter officiating.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the Thallemer-Goethals Funeral Home, Mishawaka. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Mishawaka.
Memorial contributions may be made to the church or to the charity of donor's choice.