Bickels remembered for love of family (5/19/03)

[[In-content Ad]]Stunned by the deaths of Jeff and Eileen Bickel, their friends and co-workers had no shortage of kind words for the local couple killed Friday evening in a plane crash in South Carolina.

Both were devoted to their family, involved with activities at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Portland and committed to their jobs — Jeff as plant manager at Moser Engineering, and Eileen, who worked as the payroll clerk for the Richards Restaurant corporate office at Bearcreek Farms.

"Jeff was one of the hardest working people I have ever seen," Jon Bennett, sales and marketing director at Moser Engineering, said Sunday afternoon. "His work ethic was incomparable. I don't know if he ever slept" because most days he was in early and stayed late.

"He was respected by everyone at Moser Engineering, especially the shop employees."

"Greg (Moser) revolutionized (the race car axle) industry ... because of his expertise," Bennett said, "And Jeff Bickel was instrumental in that."

Although well liked by his co-workers, Bickel, 48, didn't talk much about his family or other things while at work. "His personal life was his personal life," Bennett said.

Glynn Barber, co-owner of Qualtech Tool and Engineering which often works hand-in-hand with the Moser staff, spoke fondly of Jeff Sunday afternoon.

"Every time I saw Jeff, I'd shake his hand." Even when working in the shop, "He'd take his glove off and shake my hand," Barber said.

Carla Green, general manager of Bearcreek Farms, and her sister, Deeda Yoder, plant manager at the Richards Restaurant commissary at Bearcreek Farms, expressed similar feelings Sunday night about their beloved co-worker.

"Our office staff is just devastated. We feel like we've lost a family member. We've had a bad year as it is," Green said referring to a fire that leveled the Homestead Restaurant in late February. "This just sort of topped it off."

Green said she called the other members of the office staff Saturday morning. Some of them went into work, and all of the Richards stores were called to notify the employees of the Bickels' deaths, Green said.

Eileen, 46, had worked with Green and Yoder for about five years, handling payroll, insurance claims, accident reports and other tasks.

"She did the work of two people," Green said, "She could do anything."

Following the Feb. 27 Homestead fire, "She offered to stay over and help me recreate files," Green said. "She was just an all around great individual."

Recently when the Bickels' grandchild was born prematurely, Eileen would spend her days at the hospital in Lafayette with her daughter. At night, she went to work so that her duties there wouldn't suffer. She did the same thing when Jeff was injured and off work last year.

"It amazes us how much work she was able to get done," Yoder said Sunday night. "Anything that we asked her to do, she did.

"She's just like part of our family ... Just a wonderful person."

Jeff A. Bickel was born in Portland on Aug. 23, 1954, the son of Ron and Mary Ellen (Shreeve) Bickel. Eileen D. Bickel was born in Portland on July 10, 1956, the daughter of John and Marceil (Muhlenkamp) Alig.

Their parents, residents of Portland, survive.

Also surviving are two sons, Tom Bickel, Peoria, Ill., and Brian Bickel, Chicago; a daughter, Mrs. Schaun (Sherry) Shepherd, Lafayette; Jeff’s brothers, Dennis Bickel, New Haven, and Ed Bickel, Portland; Eileen’s brothers, Paul Alig and Michael Alig, both of Portland; Eileen’s sisters, Mrs. Russel (Kathy) Clark, Portland, Mrs. Mike (Susan) Smith, Portland, and Mrs. David (Rita) Romer, Ohio; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services are pending at the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home, Portland. Memorials may be made to the Bickel family for the grandchildren.