Jeffery Peter Hickel

FOUNTAIN CITY, Ind. – Jeffery Peter Hickel, age 62, of Fountain City, Indiana, lost his battle with cancer Friday, March 24, 2017, at IU Health Methodist Hospital. Born August 15, 1954, in Cleveland, Ohio, as one of ten children of Stephen and Elizabeth Palaski Hickel, Jeff had lived in this community for the past 17 years. He was a 1972 graduate of Newman High School, Sterling, Illinois, and earned a bachelor’s degree in photography from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. Jeff worked as a professional photographer and a licensed NAUI scuba diving instructor. While working for a dive shop in Madison, Indiana, he conducted a scuba diving class at the YMCA in Batesville, Indiana. There Jeff met his life partner, Michelle Wood Hickel. They were married on August 26, 2000, in a shipboard ceremony on the Chicago River. She survives him at their 10-acre farm in Fountain City, Indiana, along with their four children: Mitchell, Skylar, Justin, and Annie. Jeff was proud of his 32 years of service in the U.S. Army, active duty and Reserves. Among his notable assignments were duty with the On-Site Inspection Agency, two tours of duty in Iraq, and training units prior to deployment at Camp Atterbury. He was first and foremost a Tanker. Jeff retired as an E-8 Master Sergeant in 2008. He was notably awarded the Bronze Star. For the past fifteen years, he worked as a Physical Training Supervisor at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. Jeff was active with his children’s activities, taking pictures of the boys playing Northeastern Knights football. He was a campsite supervisor for county fairs and was active in 4-H, helping young people show their Outlaw Horses. Jeff was a great online gamer, who enjoyed playing with his brothers, children, and many others. Survivors include his wife; four children; parents; nine siblings, Steve (Jean) Hickel of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Michael Hickel of Seattle, Washington, twin sister, Mary Hickel (Doug Johnson) of Carmel, Indiana, Susan (Matt) Skinner of Rochester, Minnesota, Diane (Bill) Hughes of Woodbridge, Virginia, Matthew Hickel of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Vince (Jill) Hickel of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Tim (Tom Angyal) Hickel of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Jennifer (Nick) Genovese of Grand Rapids, Michigan; twenty-some nieces and nephews, remembering Uncle Jeff and now great-nieces and great-nephews; and many friends. Special thanks to our extended family who have helped so much during these past months: in-laws, Don (Connie) Wood of Richmond; brother-in-law, Michael Wood of Richmond; Aunt Teresa Wright of Richmond; Aunt Linda Mullis of Greenwood, Indiana; Tim (Rita) Palaski of Massillion, Ohio; sisters (not in-law), Staci Wood of Fountain City and Kerrie Hickel of Madison, Wisconsin; and the staff of HCHH, including Lisa, Isaac, Julie, and Marilyn. Visitation for Jeffery Peter Hickel will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at Doan & Mills Funeral Home, 790 National Road West, Richmond. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1004 North A Street, Richmond with Rev. Joseph T. Fields, Jr., M.Div. officiating. Private burial will be in Dayton National Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: "Childrens Education Fund", in honor of Jeffery Hickel, Natco Credit Union, P.O. Box 817, Richmond, IN 47375. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at www.doanmillsfuneralhome.com.

Jeffery Peter Hickel

August 15, 1954 - March 24, 2017