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George H. “Hank” Bickel

George H. "Hank" BickelÉÿšœÏÿŸ¢Õÿ ¤×ÿ5RRÊú”nGeorge H. “Hank” Bickel, 90, of 249 Autumn Haze Lane, Seneca, died peacefully, Wednesday, July 16, 2014, surrounded by his family at UPMC Northwest in Seneca.

Born December 14, 1923 in Strobleton, he was a son of the late Henry and Corona Schmid Bickel.

He worked for the Zuck family from the time he was 14 until his retirement at 64. He started his career with the Zuck’s working on their farm and eventually drove truck and retired as their mechanic.

Hank was a veteran of WW II Serving in the US Army. He was deployed at the age of 18 and became the company barber before coming home after 3 years.

His main focus in life was raising and running beagles in field trials. Hank was a member of the Fryburg Beagle Club and a respected handler with his partner, Harry Tucker, of their Autumn Fern Beagles.

Hank became a trial judge and traveled to many places in Pennsylvania and upper New York to spread his knowledge of running and raising dogs.

He was quite the poet and for years he wrote pieces of poetry about holidays and events for his family and friends.

Hank was a member of the Heckathorn United Methodist Church.

Family was an important part of his life. He would babysit when needed, take fishing trips and raise puppies with his daughters and granddaughters.

On July 24, 1943 he married the former Mary L. “Billie” McCauley, who preceded him in death on November 1, 1986. He then married Leanna C. Cannon Lewis in 1987 and she preceded him in death on July 18, 2000.

Surviving are two daughters, Susan Schmidt and husband Robert of Hawley, and Patsy Felmlee and husband Gerald of Seneca; two granddaughters, Abbey Campbell and husband Chris, and Kelly Felmlee and companion Tyler McFarland; and three great grandchildren, Tess, Riley and Ben Campbell.

Also surviving are his caregivers, Barb Stahlman, Missie Hogue, Mindy McDonald, Brenda Demarches, Lisa Gilbert and Sandy Erwin.

In addition to his parents and two wives, he was preceded in death by a brother, Dwayne Bickel, and three sisters, Elda Wilson, Ardelle Reagle and Corona “Ruth” Bowen.

Friends may call at the Morrison Funeral Home on Friday from 2 to4 and 7 to 9 pm.

Funeral services will be held at 11 am Saturday in the Heckathorn United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rob Kifer, pastor, officiating.

Interment will be in Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Heckathorn United Methodist Church or to Renal Care of Oil City.

Visit www.morrisonhome.com to send condolences online.

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