William R. Bickley

12/3/27-12/14/17

Bill Bickley was born Dec. 3, 1927 in Chicago, IL and passed peacefully in his own bed at home on Dec. 14, 2017, shortly after celebrating his 90th birthday with friends and family.  William Rodger Bickley was born at Swedish Covenant Hospital on Foster Ave in Chicago.  He was the second of 7 children born to Ruby Elvira Johnson and Robert Harry Bickley, Sr. First born was Robert Harry, then came George Edward, Beverly Alice, Thomas Neil, Richard Lymann, and Audrey Ann.  Bill graduated from Louis Agassiz grammar school where he was class president and Editor of the Agassiz Echoes, the school newspaper. He attended Lane Technical High School for one semester before transferring to Waller (now Lincoln Park High school) and served as senior class President and editor of the Yellow and Blue school paper prior to graduation.

Bill enlisted in the army on Feb 18, 1946. He was inducted at Ft. Sheridan, IL, took basic training at Camp Crowder, near Neosho, MO and was then sent to Camp Atterbury near Indianapolis, IN. Shortly afterward, Bill was promoted from Private First class to Technician 4th grade(Corporal) two stripes. In October 1946, Bill was transferred to San Antonio, TX where he served as company clerk for 5th Army Battalion Headquarters, Brooke  Army Medical Center, Ft. Sam Houston until his discharge on August 18, 1947.

Bill graduated from Wright College in Chicago where he again served as class President and went on to Evansville College in Evansville, IN on the  GI bill returning to Chicago in 1951.

Soon after, he began working for the Chicago, Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific railroad (The Milwaukee Road) which began his 35 year career and included stops in Chicago, St.Louis, MO, Bettendorf, IA, and Wauwatosa, WI before returning to Mt. Prospect, IL. Bill was Assistant Vice President of Sales and retired as Director of Corporate Communications after a very successful career.

Following his early retirement from the Milwaukee Road, he began part time employment at Chevy Chase Country Club in 1986 as Assistant Manager of golf operations, then worked in sales in the catering department.  An avid golfer, he made a hole in one on #9 at Chevy Chase on Nov. 9, 1999 at the age of 72!

Bill was married to his beloved wife, Marian, for 57 years until her passing on Jan. 23, 2011. Bill met Marian Cecelia Theresa Schatz when she was 16, working at Wieboldts department store at the Lincoln-Belmont shopping center.  He asked her to "go steady" on May 23, 1948 and she wore his high school graduation ring until getting her engagement ring in 1951. They were married during a blizzard on Mar. 7, 1953 and they honeymooned in the Ozarks. Marian later wrote on an anniversary card that they more than made up for that with beautiful trips by train, plane, auto and cruise ships to sunny destinations, including 3 trips to Europe & Hawaii and multiple trips to Acapulco, Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Las Vegas and numerous car trips to Walt Disney World, Florida, Salt Lake City, UT, California, Washington, DC, etc.

Nicknamed Sweets, he was a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan who attended the "Go Go Sox" 1959 World Series at Comiskey Park and a Chicago Bears season ticket holder for 64 years! He sat on the 50 yard line at Wrigley Field, living just two blocks from the ball park at 1301 W. Addison before the team moved to Soldier Field in 1971. He attended the Bears 1963 Championship victory over the NY Giants at Wrigley and his game ticket was $12 at that time! His renditions of "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" were legendary and he regularly welcomed visitors to Soldier Field in Section 116 with "Welcome to Chicago. We have the best seats in the house. If we all stay seated, we can all see the game!" He was also prolific at making up nicknames and sing along songs with family members, many of which are still shared with family today. Summers in Twin Lakes, WI with his mother Ruby "Dub" Bickley and Walter "King" Triebull at the family cottage are treasured family memories, as our times with Louis and Irene Schatz, Marian's parents, at 3444 N. Marshfield in Chicago.

He was a member of the American Legion for 41 years and served as Commander of American Legion Joseph M. Sesterhenn, Post #166 in Glenview, IL for 14 straight years. He also served as Commander of the American Legion 7th District in 2017.

Bill is survived by his children Scott (Keri), Debbie (Bill) Forker, Brad (Desirae), and Sharon (Tony) Sanfilippo; grandfather of Ryan, Brad, Nate, Nikki, Dan, Kimmy, Mary, and Gracie; brother of Tom (Marjorie), and the late Bob (Barbara), George, Beverly (Albert) Walter, Richard and Audrey (Emil) Gepperth and fond uncle of many nieces and nephews and dear friend to many.

A memorial service will be held at 10am on Jan. 3, 2018 at Trinity United Methodist Church,  605 W. Golf Rd. in Mt. Prospect, IL