Stephen Joseph Hickert, 66, died Tuesday, June 7, 2016, in Lawrence, Kansas.
Mr. Hickert was born December 11, 1949, in Norton, Kansas, to Barney and Beatrice “Tucky” (Schandler) Hickert. He shared a happy childhood with his 10 brothers and sisters on a Norton County farm south of Lenora. Steve was united in marriage with Jody Bowen on November 6, 1976, in New Almelo, Kansas. Their union was blessed with two children, Audrey Opal and Austin Jacob.
Steve was a farmer for 30 years—thanks to the unwavering support of his wife Jody and opportunity provided by Bob Boyd, Fay Kline, Wilbur Kline and Mike Bangle. Later he was an auditor for the Kansas Department of Revenue for 12 years.
Mr. Hickert was a 3rd Degree member of the New Almelo Council #3124 Knights of Columbus. He was a lifelong resolute Square Deal, New Deal, Fair Deal liberal Democrat and a sustaining member of the ACLU. Steve served his community as a Lenora Mercantile Association Co-op director, Graham County Conservation District supervisor, Northwest Kansas Groundwater Management District #4 director and Graham County Hospital director.
Steve was a people person. His great pleasure/vice in life was engaging in spirited conversation with friends and acquaintances while sipping coffee at local cafes or drinking beer at nearby watering holes. The new acquaintances invariably enlarged his circle of friends. Paradoxically, he was energized by the open, empty solitude of the Great Plains.
Steve is survived by his wife Jody Hickert of Lawrence; daughter Audrey Hickert and husband Jason Franchuk of Albany, NY; son Austin Hickert and wife Kiedra (Riedel) Hickert , grandsons John Stephen and Dean Louis Hickert all of Pueblo West, CO; mother Beatrice “Tucky” Hickert of Wichita; sisters Susan (Scott) Brown, Nancy Kreutzer, Beatrice (Ron) Heikes, Dianne (George) Witwer, Maureen (Bill) Salomon, Caroline (Dale) Schippers, and Colette (Jawad) Haider; brothers Bernard (Barbara) Hickert, Joseph (Gail) Hickert, and George Hickert; mother-in-law Phyllis Bowen; sister-in-law Shelly (Ed) Wente; brother-in-law Doug Bowen; 27 nieces and nephews; and seven great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father Barney Hickert, and brother-in-law Joseph Kreutzer.
Vigil Service: Monday, June 13th at 7:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Parish Center in New Almelo
Funeral Mass: Tuesday, June 14th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in New Almelo with Rev. Kerry Ninemire and Rev. Joseph Kieffer officiating
Burial: St. Joseph Cemetery
Memorial Funds: In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis, TN)
Visitation: Monday, June 13th from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at the funeral home in Oberlin and after 5 p.m. at the church parish center in New Almelo.