Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 3/2/2006

Kenneth E. Bickel

March 28, 1943 - Feb. 28, 2006

Kenneth E. Bickel, 62, of Elkhart, and formerly of Bremen and Mishawaka, passed away early Tuesday morning, February 28, 2006, in his home.

Ken was born March 28, 1943, in Mishawaka, a son of the late Earl and Mary Jo (Sheets) Bickel. He grew up in Mishawaka, attending St. Monica Catholic Church and School and graduated in 1961 from St. Joseph High School, South Bend. Ken served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1961-1965. Following the service he worked at Bendix Corporation. On June 4, 1966, he married the former Charlene VanDeKeere. They moved to the Wyatt area where they worked many long hours on their dairy farm. Ken enjoyed farming and loved to call himself “a diversified agriculturalist.” Following his farming career, he operated KC Construction and was a partner in Rainbow Travel. Since 1981, Ken worked in real estate for various area offices, sold new homes for Gerard Homes and most recently was a broker associate with Century 21 Jim Dunfee Realty. Ken was a school board member with Penn-Harris-Madison Schools from 1978-1986. He belonged to the Indiana School Board Association where he served as president from 1983-1984 and was a member of the National School Board Association from 1982-1986. Ken served locally on the Education Roundtable. He was a member of the National Association of Realtors and the Indiana Realtors Association. Locally, he was a member of the Greater South Bend-Mishawaka Association of Realtors and the Multiple Listing Service.

On May 31, 1992, in Mishawaka, Ken married the former JoAnn (Harwell) Stemen, and she survives. Other surviving family includes his four children, Kevin (Erin) Bickel of Wakarusa, Mark (Terrie) Bickel of Bremen, Richard (Janell) Bickel of Bremen and Jennifer (Ryan) Schafer of Bremen; three stepchildren, Amelia (Mark) Daniel of Lubbock, Texas, Makenzie (Patrick) Gaughan of Mishawaka and John Keith Stemen of Elkhart; a brother, David (Brenda) Bickel of South Bend; a sister, Kathleen Marie of Mishawaka; nine grandchildren, Nick, Taylor, Claire, Kaley, Sam, Emily and Caroline Bickel, and Kyle and Sarah Schafer; three step-grandchildren, Olivia Brianna and Simon Patrick Gaughan, and Cole Monroe Daniel; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gilbert and Erma Harwell; Ken's former wife, Charlene Gouker; and numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family.

Friends may spend time with Ken's family today (Thursday) from 4 to 8 p.m. in Thallemer, Goethals & Wells Funeral Home, 503 W. Third Street, Mishawaka, where a prayer service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 2 p.m. in St. Monica Catholic Church, 222 W. Mishawaka Ave., Mishawaka, with Rev. Jeffery Largent officiating. Entombment will follow at Riverview Cemetery, South Bend.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Center for Hospice & Palliative Care or to the American Heart Association. Envelopes are available in the funeral home.

Ken's family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff at Memorial Hospital for the wonderful care given to both Ken and the family.