Lester Albert Bickel, 85, of Collinsville, died at 6:15 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, at his residence.
He was born Nov. 2, 1921, in Frontenac, Kan.
Mr. Bickel was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Collinsville; a 1940 graduate of Collinsville High School; was previously employed by Chrysler Motors in Detroit, Mich.; was a 1950 graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he received a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in school administration; began teaching in 1951 in the eighth grade and was named principal at State Park School in 1953 and Kreitner School 1956; was a member of the State Park Volunteer Fire Department, PTA, and was Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 82; and from 1954 to 1959 he was a Boy Scout camp administrator at Camp Sunnen Summer Camp (near Potosi, Mo.).
Beginning in 1954 he served on the planning committee for Unit 10 construction, through which he oversaw the building of Kreitner School in 1956, additions to Jefferson and Miller schools in 1958 and 1959, the construction of Lincoln and Summit schools in 1961, and Twin Echo and Maryville West schools in 1971. From 1959 to 1962 he spent summers as coordinator of building and grounds, and in 1962 he became a full-time assistant superintendent. Over the next 18 years he worked in all facets of administration including elementary curriculum, personnel, fund-raising, coordinator of special committees, director of summer school, director of federal programs (including Title I, II and III), New Careers, Neighborhood Youth Corps and Head Start, and he spearheaded the "Right to Read" program.
Under Mr. Bickel's tenure as director of building and grounds, the new high school was planned. He was responsible for the Basic Literacy and the GED programs at Unit 10 as director of adult education; served as director of transportation from 1968 to 1974; was involved with the PTA Council and the origination of the Junior Olympics; and began the Fine Arts Festival, elementary athletic competitions and environmental education projects. He retired from Unit 10 in 1980.
Mr. Bickel received the following awards: the Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to Boy Scouts in 1962, Distinguished Service to Education Award given by the regional superintendent of schools in 1972, Honorary Life Membership to the National PTA in 1974, Honorary Membership in the Illinois State PTA in 1976, Highest Ideals of American Education Award presented by the regional superintendent of schools in 1977, Kiwanis of the Year Award in 1987, Kiwanis Hixon Fellow Award in 2001, Legion Honor Award in 2003, the PTA Council Lifetime Recognition award in 2004, and the Collinsville High School Alumni Achievement Award in 2004.
Mr. Bickel was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran serving from 1942 to 1945. He served in World War II where he saw action in the South Pacific and received numerous medals. He remained active in the Marine Corps League and Disabled American Veterans and was a member of VFW Post 5961 and the American Legion Post 365, both in Collinsville.
He married the former Catherine Rose "Kitty" Maiale in 1944. She survives in Collinsville.
Other survivors include two sons, Melvin (Linda) Bickel of Collinsville and Richard (Sue) Bickel of Caseyville; two daughters, Leslee (Eric) Morris and Sandee (Dale) Dust, both of Collinsville; two brothers, Willard Bickel and Franklin Bickel; four sisters, Pearl Heidinger Whitmore, Ida Mae Smith, Dorothy McCoy and Ann S. Kaiser; nieces and nephews; a special niece, Ginger (Larry) Trucano of Collinsville; six grandsons, Richard (Sondra) Bickel and Scot (Jessica) Morris, both of Collinsville, James (Caroline) Pirtle of Pocahontas, Lossie E. (Carrie) Morris of St. Louis, Derek (Jamie) Dust of Nashville, Tenn. and Danny Bickel of Caseyville; six granddaughters, Angela Wingo and Heather (Jim) Wallace, both of Collinsville, Whitney (James) O'Brien of Lombard, Lisa (Ryan) Barker of Maryville, Lindsay (Kerby) Weaver of Columbia, Mo. and Amanda Bickel of Brentwood, Mo.; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William F. and Verna (Smith) Bickel; and six brothers, Edward Bickel, Lloyd Bickel, Louis Bickel, Fred Bickel, John Bickel and Eugene Bickel.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. today, Jan. 10, at the Alpha & Omega Christian Fellowship Church (the former State Park School) in Collinsville with the Rev. Ron Habermehl officiating.
Burial will be in St. John Cemetery in Collinsville.
Herr Funeral Home in Collinsville handled the arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Kreitner School Library Fund or to Family Hospice of the Belleville Area and will be accepted at the funeral home.
He was born Nov. 2, 1921, in Frontenac, Kan.
Mr. Bickel was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Collinsville; a 1940 graduate of Collinsville High School; was previously employed by Chrysler Motors in Detroit, Mich.; was a 1950 graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he received a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in school administration; began teaching in 1951 in the eighth grade and was named principal at State Park School in 1953 and Kreitner School 1956; was a member of the State Park Volunteer Fire Department, PTA, and was Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 82; and from 1954 to 1959 he was a Boy Scout camp administrator at Camp Sunnen Summer Camp (near Potosi, Mo.).
Beginning in 1954 he served on the planning committee for Unit 10 construction, through which he oversaw the building of Kreitner School in 1956, additions to Jefferson and Miller schools in 1958 and 1959, the construction of Lincoln and Summit schools in 1961, and Twin Echo and Maryville West schools in 1971. From 1959 to 1962 he spent summers as coordinator of building and grounds, and in 1962 he became a full-time assistant superintendent. Over the next 18 years he worked in all facets of administration including elementary curriculum, personnel, fund-raising, coordinator of special committees, director of summer school, director of federal programs (including Title I, II and III), New Careers, Neighborhood Youth Corps and Head Start, and he spearheaded the "Right to Read" program.
Under Mr. Bickel's tenure as director of building and grounds, the new high school was planned. He was responsible for the Basic Literacy and the GED programs at Unit 10 as director of adult education; served as director of transportation from 1968 to 1974; was involved with the PTA Council and the origination of the Junior Olympics; and began the Fine Arts Festival, elementary athletic competitions and environmental education projects. He retired from Unit 10 in 1980.
Mr. Bickel received the following awards: the Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to Boy Scouts in 1962, Distinguished Service to Education Award given by the regional superintendent of schools in 1972, Honorary Life Membership to the National PTA in 1974, Honorary Membership in the Illinois State PTA in 1976, Highest Ideals of American Education Award presented by the regional superintendent of schools in 1977, Kiwanis of the Year Award in 1987, Kiwanis Hixon Fellow Award in 2001, Legion Honor Award in 2003, the PTA Council Lifetime Recognition award in 2004, and the Collinsville High School Alumni Achievement Award in 2004.
Mr. Bickel was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran serving from 1942 to 1945. He served in World War II where he saw action in the South Pacific and received numerous medals. He remained active in the Marine Corps League and Disabled American Veterans and was a member of VFW Post 5961 and the American Legion Post 365, both in Collinsville.
He married the former Catherine Rose "Kitty" Maiale in 1944. She survives in Collinsville.
Other survivors include two sons, Melvin (Linda) Bickel of Collinsville and Richard (Sue) Bickel of Caseyville; two daughters, Leslee (Eric) Morris and Sandee (Dale) Dust, both of Collinsville; two brothers, Willard Bickel and Franklin Bickel; four sisters, Pearl Heidinger Whitmore, Ida Mae Smith, Dorothy McCoy and Ann S. Kaiser; nieces and nephews; a special niece, Ginger (Larry) Trucano of Collinsville; six grandsons, Richard (Sondra) Bickel and Scot (Jessica) Morris, both of Collinsville, James (Caroline) Pirtle of Pocahontas, Lossie E. (Carrie) Morris of St. Louis, Derek (Jamie) Dust of Nashville, Tenn. and Danny Bickel of Caseyville; six granddaughters, Angela Wingo and Heather (Jim) Wallace, both of Collinsville, Whitney (James) O'Brien of Lombard, Lisa (Ryan) Barker of Maryville, Lindsay (Kerby) Weaver of Columbia, Mo. and Amanda Bickel of Brentwood, Mo.; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William F. and Verna (Smith) Bickel; and six brothers, Edward Bickel, Lloyd Bickel, Louis Bickel, Fred Bickel, John Bickel and Eugene Bickel.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. today, Jan. 10, at the Alpha & Omega Christian Fellowship Church (the former State Park School) in Collinsville with the Rev. Ron Habermehl officiating.
Burial will be in St. John Cemetery in Collinsville.
Herr Funeral Home in Collinsville handled the arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Kreitner School Library Fund or to Family Hospice of the Belleville Area and will be accepted at the funeral home.
Lester Albert Bickel, 85, of Collinsville, died at 6:15 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, at his residence.
He was born Nov. 2, 1921, in Frontenac, Kan.
Mr. Bickel was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Collinsville; a 1940 graduate of Collinsville High School; was previously employed by Chrysler Motors in Detroit, Mich.; was a 1950 graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he received a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in school administration; began teaching in 1951 in the eighth grade and was named principal at State Park School in 1953 and Kreitner School 1956; was a member of the State Park Volunteer Fire Department, PTA, and was Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 82; and from 1954 to 1959 he was a Boy Scout camp administrator at Camp Sunnen Summer Camp (near Potosi, Mo.).
Beginning in 1954 he served on the planning committee for Unit 10 construction, through which he oversaw the building of Kreitner School in 1956, additions to Jefferson and Miller schools in 1958 and 1959, the construction of Lincoln and Summit schools in 1961, and Twin Echo and Maryville West schools in 1971. From 1959 to 1962 he spent summers as coordinator of building and grounds, and in 1962 he became a full-time assistant superintendent. Over the next 18 years he worked in all facets of administration including elementary curriculum, personnel, fund-raising, coordinator of special committees, director of summer school, director of federal programs (including Title I, II and III), New Careers, Neighborhood Youth Corps and Head Start, and he spearheaded the "Right to Read" program.
Under Mr. Bickel's tenure as director of building and grounds, the new high school was planned. He was responsible for the Basic Literacy and the GED programs at Unit 10 as director of adult education; served as director of transportation from 1968 to 1974; was involved with the PTA Council and the origination of the Junior Olympics; and began the Fine Arts Festival, elementary athletic competitions and environmental education projects. He retired from Unit 10 in 1980.
Mr. Bickel received the following awards: the Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to Boy Scouts in 1962, Distinguished Service to Education Award given by the regional superintendent of schools in 1972, Honorary Life Membership to the National PTA in 1974, Honorary Membership in the Illinois State PTA in 1976, Highest Ideals of American Education Award presented by the regional superintendent of schools in 1977, Kiwanis of the Year Award in 1987, Kiwanis Hixon Fellow Award in 2001, Legion Honor Award in 2003, the PTA Council Lifetime Recognition award in 2004, and the Collinsville High School Alumni Achievement Award in 2004.
Mr. Bickel was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran serving from 1942 to 1945. He served in World War II where he saw action in the South Pacific and received numerous medals. He remained active in the Marine Corps League and Disabled American Veterans and was a member of VFW Post 5961 and the American Legion Post 365, both in Collinsville.
He married the former Catherine Rose "Kitty" Maiale in 1944. She survives in Collinsville.
Other survivors include two sons, Melvin (Linda) Bickel of Collinsville and Richard (Sue) Bickel of Caseyville; two daughters, Leslee (Eric) Morris and Sandee (Dale) Dust, both of Collinsville; two brothers, Willard Bickel and Franklin Bickel; four sisters, Pearl Heidinger Whitmore, Ida Mae Smith, Dorothy McCoy and Ann S. Kaiser; nieces and nephews; a special niece, Ginger (Larry) Trucano of Collinsville; six grandsons, Richard (Sondra) Bickel and Scot (Jessica) Morris, both of Collinsville, James (Caroline) Pirtle of Pocahontas, Lossie E. (Carrie) Morris of St. Louis, Derek (Jamie) Dust of Nashville, Tenn. and Danny Bickel of Caseyville; six granddaughters, Angela Wingo and Heather (Jim) Wallace, both of Collinsville, Whitney (James) O'Brien of Lombard, Lisa (Ryan) Barker of Maryville, Lindsay (Kerby) Weaver of Columbia, Mo. and Amanda Bickel of Brentwood, Mo.; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William F. and Verna (Smith) Bickel; and six brothers, Edward Bickel, Lloyd Bickel, Louis Bickel, Fred Bickel, John Bickel and Eugene Bickel.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. today, Jan. 10, at the Alpha & Omega Christian Fellowship Church (the former State Park School) in Collinsville with the Rev. Ron Habermehl officiating.
Burial will be in St. John Cemetery in Collinsville.
Herr Funeral Home in Collinsville handled the arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Kreitner School Library Fund or to Family Hospice of the Belleville Area and will be accepted at the funeral home.
He was born Nov. 2, 1921, in Frontenac, Kan.
Mr. Bickel was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Collinsville; a 1940 graduate of Collinsville High School; was previously employed by Chrysler Motors in Detroit, Mich.; was a 1950 graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he received a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in school administration; began teaching in 1951 in the eighth grade and was named principal at State Park School in 1953 and Kreitner School 1956; was a member of the State Park Volunteer Fire Department, PTA, and was Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 82; and from 1954 to 1959 he was a Boy Scout camp administrator at Camp Sunnen Summer Camp (near Potosi, Mo.).
Beginning in 1954 he served on the planning committee for Unit 10 construction, through which he oversaw the building of Kreitner School in 1956, additions to Jefferson and Miller schools in 1958 and 1959, the construction of Lincoln and Summit schools in 1961, and Twin Echo and Maryville West schools in 1971. From 1959 to 1962 he spent summers as coordinator of building and grounds, and in 1962 he became a full-time assistant superintendent. Over the next 18 years he worked in all facets of administration including elementary curriculum, personnel, fund-raising, coordinator of special committees, director of summer school, director of federal programs (including Title I, II and III), New Careers, Neighborhood Youth Corps and Head Start, and he spearheaded the "Right to Read" program.
Under Mr. Bickel's tenure as director of building and grounds, the new high school was planned. He was responsible for the Basic Literacy and the GED programs at Unit 10 as director of adult education; served as director of transportation from 1968 to 1974; was involved with the PTA Council and the origination of the Junior Olympics; and began the Fine Arts Festival, elementary athletic competitions and environmental education projects. He retired from Unit 10 in 1980.
Mr. Bickel received the following awards: the Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to Boy Scouts in 1962, Distinguished Service to Education Award given by the regional superintendent of schools in 1972, Honorary Life Membership to the National PTA in 1974, Honorary Membership in the Illinois State PTA in 1976, Highest Ideals of American Education Award presented by the regional superintendent of schools in 1977, Kiwanis of the Year Award in 1987, Kiwanis Hixon Fellow Award in 2001, Legion Honor Award in 2003, the PTA Council Lifetime Recognition award in 2004, and the Collinsville High School Alumni Achievement Award in 2004.
Mr. Bickel was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran serving from 1942 to 1945. He served in World War II where he saw action in the South Pacific and received numerous medals. He remained active in the Marine Corps League and Disabled American Veterans and was a member of VFW Post 5961 and the American Legion Post 365, both in Collinsville.
He married the former Catherine Rose "Kitty" Maiale in 1944. She survives in Collinsville.
Other survivors include two sons, Melvin (Linda) Bickel of Collinsville and Richard (Sue) Bickel of Caseyville; two daughters, Leslee (Eric) Morris and Sandee (Dale) Dust, both of Collinsville; two brothers, Willard Bickel and Franklin Bickel; four sisters, Pearl Heidinger Whitmore, Ida Mae Smith, Dorothy McCoy and Ann S. Kaiser; nieces and nephews; a special niece, Ginger (Larry) Trucano of Collinsville; six grandsons, Richard (Sondra) Bickel and Scot (Jessica) Morris, both of Collinsville, James (Caroline) Pirtle of Pocahontas, Lossie E. (Carrie) Morris of St. Louis, Derek (Jamie) Dust of Nashville, Tenn. and Danny Bickel of Caseyville; six granddaughters, Angela Wingo and Heather (Jim) Wallace, both of Collinsville, Whitney (James) O'Brien of Lombard, Lisa (Ryan) Barker of Maryville, Lindsay (Kerby) Weaver of Columbia, Mo. and Amanda Bickel of Brentwood, Mo.; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William F. and Verna (Smith) Bickel; and six brothers, Edward Bickel, Lloyd Bickel, Louis Bickel, Fred Bickel, John Bickel and Eugene Bickel.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. today, Jan. 10, at the Alpha & Omega Christian Fellowship Church (the former State Park School) in Collinsville with the Rev. Ron Habermehl officiating.
Burial will be in St. John Cemetery in Collinsville.
Herr Funeral Home in Collinsville handled the arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Kreitner School Library Fund or to Family Hospice of the Belleville Area and will be accepted at the funeral home.
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