James Lee Bicknell

James Lee Bicknell, 86, of St. Joseph passed away on April 13, 2015 in Holland City Hospital following surgery for a broken hip. A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, April 21 at 11 AM at Starks and Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph officiated by Pastor Gordy Berry. Burial will follow the service at Riverview Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Monday, April 20 from 5 PM until 7 PM at the funeral home. Those wishing to leave a memorial contribution may do so to The Wounded Warrior Project or to the St. Joseph Lion’s Club. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Jim was born on October 28, 1928 in Benton Harbor, the son of Delosse E. and Mary Lee (Bare) Bicknell. He graduated from St. Joseph H.S. in 1946 where he excelled in music and sports; in 1946 as a senior, he played on St Joe’s only undefeated State Championship basketball team and was the conference, district and regional 200 yard low hurdle champion in track. Following graduation he attended Michigan State University receiving a B.S. in Chemistry and Physics in 1950. He then served 3 years in the Army Security Agency and studied for 1 year at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. Following his time in the Army, he met and married his wife, Jeanne (Labadie) in 1955, they lived many years at Diamond Lake near Cassopolis, MI and had two children. In 1954, he went to work for the Missile Division of the Bendix Corp. in Mishawaka, IN and became head of the Material Analysis and Testing Laboratory. In 1968 he won the National Colwell award in recognition for his contribution to the aerospace industry. Following his retirement in 1988, he and Jeanne wintered in Melbourne Beach, Florida and traveled the USA and abroad. He loved bluegrass and classical music. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and the Lions Club for 25 years and was a life member of the American Legion and the VFW. Mr. Bicknell, along with his wife, returned to St. Joe in 1999 where they resided for 13 years before his wife’s health required a move to Freedom Village, a retirement community in Holland, MI. Jim is survived by his wife, Jeanne; a son, John of Ann Arbor, Michigan; a daughter, Patricia Bradley of Ypsilanti, Michigan; a niece, Teresa Taylor of Westminster, CO; and four nephews, Scott Bicknell of Greeley, CO, Thomas Bicknell of Bloomfield, CO; David Bicknell of Westminster, CO; and Robert Bicknell of Toutle,WA. His only two brothers, Marvin (Bink) and Richard (Dick), both proceeded him in death in 2009.