John Edgar "Jack" Bickham

John Edgar “Jack” Bickham passed away at his home, on Monday, February 25, 2019, following a battle with cancer. Jack was born June 24, 1930 to Delia (Lindberg) and Peter Bickham in Hessel, Michigan. He was the oldest of 4 children. He resided in the Les Cheneaux Islands area the majority of his life. Jack was an avid boat and snowmobile racer for many years. He started building his own boats at an early age; racing both outboard runabouts and hydroplanes. His many years of racing included winning the APBA Stock Outboard Nationals, an accomplishment he was very proud of. He was a member of the Les Cheneaux Snowmobile Club, and a pioneer in enduro-circuit snowmobile racing. He and his teams competed in many races including the Soo I-500 as well as the ‘Triple Crown’. His input and insight contributed to what are now the MIRA and GLASS series of racing. He continued to enjoy both sports beyond his retirement by assisting and mentoring young racers. Another favorite pastime was playing poker with family and friends. Like many yoopers, Jack enjoyed hunting and fishing. He shot his last buck November 2017, at age 87. Jack was in the first graduating class from the ‘new’ Cedarville High School. Following his graduation, he lived in Detroit where he worked for IBM and took their technical classes at night. He returned to Cedarville and started working at US Steel/Michigan Limestone. He worked in a variety of positions including mechanic, pipe fitter, heavy equipment operator, and finished his 36 year career as tool repairman. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marilyn Bickham; two sons, John (Gillian) Bickham, and Mike (Mickey) Bickham; two grandchildren, Casey (Frank) Zimmerman, and Lisa (Jim) Zyble; seven great-grandchildren, Adelyn, Ariana, Aiden, Asher, and Axel Zimmerman, Jim and Jack Zyble; brother, Stanley (Bernice) Bickham of St. Ignace; sister, Mabel McCord of Pickford; special cousin, Chuck Lindberg; and special friend, Dale Dunn. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Donna Olmstead, sister, Nancy Bickham; grandson, Luke Bickham; brother-in-law, Harold McCord, sister-in-law, Jeannie Bickham; and nephew, Ron McCord. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Les Cheneaux Auxiliary Ambulance Corp., PO Box 453, Hessel, MI. 49745; or your charity of choice. R. Galer Funeral Home in Pickford, Michigan is serving the family. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rgalerfuneralhome.com.

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John Edgar "Jack" Bickham

June 24, 1930 - February 25, 2019