Bob was born in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, on February 13, 1946. He met the love of his life, Clare Cross, and married her on August 12, 1967, in Altoona, Pennsylvania. His life ended on Saturday July 2, 2016, at the age of 70, after a six-year battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
He resided in Greeley, Colorado, from 1999-2016. He had previously lived in Huron, South Dakota, Prairie Farm, Wisconsin, Bellwood, Pennsylvania, and Redwing, Minnesota. He was reared in rural Wisconsin near the town of Turtle Lake.
Bob graduated from Turtle Lake High School in 1964 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin Stout in 1997. He had an amazing ability to remember random bits of information, which made him an excellent trivia player. He was especially good with numbers and puzzles.
A jack-of-all-trades, Bob’s employment was primarily in the construction field, where he worked hard to support his family as a master carpenter. Although he tried working in other fields over the years he always went back to construction; he loved to work outdoors and to build with his hands. After achieving his BS at the age of 51, Bob tried his hand at teaching the building trade. Yet again, though, he went back to his first love – construction – until his health required him to retire.
Throughout his adult life Bob was involved in church service for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He found joy in serving and helping others. He also volunteered as an adult leader and mentor for 4-H programs in both Wisconsin and Colorado. He was involved with the Jaycees when he lived in Pennsylvania. With his gregarious personality, Bob had a gift for making friends everywhere he went.
After high school Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy. However, a heart condition prevented him from building the lifelong military career he had anticipated. He also served for the U.S. Army as a reservist and in the National Guard. All told, Bob gave 18 years of his life to branches of the U.S. military.
As a boy and a man Bob was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting big and small game with a bow, rifle, or shotgun, and he loved to spend time fishing on a river or lake in both the summer and winter. His outdoor skills often provided food for the family table. Bob had a natural artistic and creative streak that shone through in his woodworking, leatherworking, drawing, and in creating Para cord bracelets, which he taught himself to make in the last months of his life. He also did Sudoku, jigsaw, and crossword puzzles in an effort to keep his mind busy while he was confined to bed.
Bob is survived by his wife Clare, his father Chester, his children Bryan Wickman (Ilene), Lorena Lyrek (Bill), Brenda Anderson (Jeff), Nicole Aguilar (Lupe), Janet Wickman, Graydon Wickman, Derrick Travis (Shawn), Patrick Wickman, Kent Wickman, Ellen Anderson (Travis), and Logan Wickman, and also his sister Carol and his brothers Randy and Roy. He has 32 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Bob is preceded in death by his mother Ellen and a son, Aaron.
A viewing will be held from 9-11 A.M. with services starting at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, July 11, 2016 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 401 49th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634. Interment will be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, at Fort Logan National Cemetery.¹