Bernard C. "Bernie" Hickman

Bernard C. "Bernie" Hickman, 75, of Ottawa, Illinois, passed away Saturday, May 17, 2014, at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Funeral Service for Bernie will be at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at Ottawa Funeral Home, with Rev. Mike Driscoll officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, at Ottawa Funeral Home with prayers at 3:45 p.m. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery. Bernie was born October 23, 1938, in McPaul, Iowa, to Burley and Ina Mae (Snodgrass) Hickman. He married Virginia "Kay" Oslanzi on November 5, 1959, at St. Columba Church. He served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1959 earning the following Army Decorations, rifle marksman, motor vehicle driver, mechanics badge driver with pistol marksman, and good conduct. He was transferred to Illinois during his service, to work on the ASHO Test Road for Route 80. Bernie worked for GE Plastics for 33 years as a chemical operator until his retirement in 1998. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Church. Bernie is survived by his wife, Kay; his children, Mark (Colleen) Hickman, Brian (LaDawn) Hickman, Theresa Hickman, Susan (Kevin) Simpson, Christine (Lyell) Klinge, Julie Hickman, and a special daughter, Linda Coates; nine grandchildren, Sarah (Brian) Marshall, Dawn (Zachary) Schweickert, Shawn Hickman, Kevin Hickman, Brianne Simpson, Amanda Simpson, Chad Klinge, Brock Klinge, and Matt Leal; three great grandchildren, Austin Marshall, Hannah Marshall, and Paxton Schweickert; and a sister, Shirley Foster of Schuyler, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Kevin, at birth; and three brothers, Burley, Jack, and Larry Hickman. Pallbearers will be Mark Hickman, Brian Hickman, Matt Leal, Lyell Klinge, Chad Klinge, Brock Klinge, Zach Schweickert, and Brian Marshall. Memorials may be directed to the family.