Jay E. Bickel

Jay E. Bickel Sr., 75, of Waterloo, died at Cedar Valley Hospice Home, on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 of natural causes. Jay was born on September 10, 1942 in Perry, IA, the son of Everett Lester & Neola (Halphery) Bickel. Jay graduated from Des Moines East High School in 1961. He then served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam, receiving an honorable discharge on January 4, 1965. He worked as a heavy equipment mechanic for the city of Waterloo for 28 years, retiring in 2005. Jay married Carol Bowles in 1965; they were later divorced. He then married Linda Harvey on September 26, 1992 in Waterloo. Survived by his wife, Linda Bickel of Waterloo; four sons, Jay E. (Kim) Bickel Jr. of Waterloo, Clay (Anita) Bowles of Waterloo, Scott (Jane) Bowles of Waterloo and David (Rhonda) Bowles of Grundy Center; seven grandchildren, Adam Bickel, Andrew Bickel, Jay E. "J.J." Bickel III, Scott Bickel, Emily Kapinus, Grant Bowles, and Julia Bloeser; six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jack (Veronica) Bickel of Cedar Falls and Marvin (Jan) Bickel of Arizona; and five sisters, LaVonne Melton of Arizona, Gail (Ralph) Cox of Minnesota, Karen (Keith) Bohning of Des Moines...[more]

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arilyn (Warren) Wolfe of Arizona, and Vickie (Gary) Bontrager of Indiana. Preceded in death by his parents; a son, Charles Ranson; two brothers, Darrell "Pete" Bickel and Jerry Bickel; and two sisters, Darlene Hall and Wanda Tilton. Jay enjoyed camping, fishing, studying history - especially World War II. He was known for rescuing animals. Jay always looked forward to family cookouts in the summer. He loved watching old Westerns. To read the full obituary, please click here: http://www.kearnsfuneralservice.com/obituaries/jay-e.-bickel-sr