Bickel, Blanche B. Aug 16, 1914 - May 19, 2015 Blanche B. Bickel was born at Litchfield, Nebraska on August 16, 1914. She was the daughter of Henry C. and Katherine M. Sheehan Bickel. She graduated from Litchfield High School and was a rural school teacher before entering the University of Nebraska School of Nursing in Omaha. She held a BSN degree from the University of Nebraska and a MN degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. During World War II she served in the Army Nurse Corps for five years with the 2nd General Hospital in England and the 46th Field Hospital in France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany and Norway. By the end of the war she held the rank of First Lieutenant and was awarded the EAME (Europe, Africa and Middle East) campaign medal with two bronze battle stars. She was appointed to the Veterans Administration Nursing Service in 1946 and served in California VA hospitals until she retired in 1973. Ms. Bickel moved to Sun City, Arizona in 1975 and was a member of the Lakeview United Methodist Church. She was an active volunteer in Sun City's Interfaith Services. She was especially interested in Interfaith's Adult Day Health Center. She and a physician acquired funding to develop this adult day care program. It was the first of its kind in the country and became a model for subsequent programs. Ms. Bickel moved to Sierra Winds, a life care retirement community, in Peoria, Arizona in December 1995. In 2005 she moved back to Nebraska at the insistence of her family who wanted her closer. She resided at Lakeside Village Assisted Living facility in Omaha until 2009. She then lived in Lighthouse Skilled Care Facility until her death on May 19, 2015, three months short of her 101st birthday. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, and nine brothers and sisters. She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and great, great-great nieces and nephews.

Burial will be Saturday, June 6th at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, 6800 S 14th, Lincoln, NE at 10am followed by a MEMORIAL SERVICE at Lighthouse Skilled Care Facility, 17600 Arbor St, Omaha, NE at 3pm.

CROSBY BURKET SWANSON GOLDEN 11902 W. Center Road
402-333-7200 www.crosby-burket.com