Paula Bickel, 72

Paula Faye Bickel, age 72 of Mendon, died Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born at the family home in Lake City, MI on Jan. 31, 1937 one of 12 children born to Hallett H. and Hazel M. (Sheldon) Bickel. Paula was a 1955 graduate of Lake City High School, and later worked for the Lake City Telephone Company. Paula moved to Mendon in 1969. Here she worked for G.T.E. (Verizon), and at First Savings Bank in Three Rivers, retiring in 2002.

Paula liked to knit and do other needle-work. She enjoyed flower gardening and working in the yard. She was a collector of angels and bears, and was always accompanied by her little dog, Abby.

Paula is survived by 2 sisters, Imogene Bickel of Vicksburg and Karry Ellen Bickel of Mendon; 3 brothers, Calvin Bickel (Phyllis) of Cadillac, Ivan Bickel (Jacque) of Huntsville, TX, and Stanley Bickel (Judy) of Mendon; a sister in law, Betty Bickel of Grawn, MI; several nieces and nephews including Jean Bickel of Kalamazoo.

She was preceded in death by her parents; 4 brothers, Donald Bickel (Ethel), Melvin Bickel, John Bickel (Doris), and Rollin Bickel; 2 sisters, Maxine Chaykowski (Wally), and Kathryn Martinson (Kenny).

Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday (today) at the Eickhoff Funeral Home in Mendon. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1, 2010 at the Three Rivers Bible Church, 220 N. Erie St. in Three Rivers with Pastor Jay Bailey officiating. The family will also receive friends for 1 hour prior to services at the church. A private burial will take place later in Mendon Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to either the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, or to a charity of one’s choice. An online register is available at www.eickhofffuneralhome.com