Jacob Bickel (Veteran)

The Reverend Jacob Arnold Bickel, age 85 years, of California, Mo., died Wednesday, August 10, 2011, at St. Mary's Health Center. Arnold was born April 27, 1926, in Cole County, Mo., the son of Jacob and Mattie Elizabeth Moad Bickel. He was married on October 21, 1946, in Jefferson City, Mo., to Hattie E. Essary. Arnold attended Jefferson City Public School prior to serving in the United States Navy during World War II. He graduated from Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas and the Midwestern Baptist Seminary in Kansas City, Mo. Arnold was a Baptist minister for many years serving parishes at Hope Baptist Church in Hollis, Okla., Roaring Springs Baptist Church in Roaring Spring, Texas, Bethlehem Baptist Church in Centralia, Mo., Immanuel Baptist Church in Jefferson City, Mo., and First Baptist Church in Troy. He served as Pastor and Director of Missions at First Baptist Church in Mexico until his retirement in 1993. After retirement, he served as Interim Pastor at Union Hill Baptist Church in Holts Summit, Mo., and Richland Baptist Church in Kingdom City, Mo. Later, he served as Interim Pastor and later Pastor at the Salem Baptist Church in California, Mo. until his retirement in 2009. He served in the Missouri State Executive Committee of the Missouri Baptist Convention and was the Chaplain of the Missouri Senate. He was a member of the Salem Baptist Church in California, Mo.; a member of the Jefferson City and California Ministerial Alliance; and a past member of the Host Lions Club of Jefferson City. Arnold was an accomplished oil painter who enjoyed sharing his painting with others. Survivors include: his wife of 64 years, Hattie Bickel; one son, Stephen P. Bickel and his wife Carolyn of Branson, Mo.; three sisters, Mary Bellville of St. Louis, Mo., Betty Mosley of Columbia, Mo., and Jan Craghead and her husband Pete of Fulton, Mo.; three brothers, Donald Bickel and his wife Pat of Lexington, S.C., Gene Bickel of Jefferson City, Mo., and Marvin Bickel of Jefferson City, Mo.; five grandchildren, Kelley Bergman and her husband David, Leslie Wilhelmsen and her husband Ronny, Kirk Bickel and his wife Alison, Stacey Fischer and her husband Devin, and Kory Bickel and his wife Alison; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Darrell Bickel in 1992; and one brother, John Bickel in 1999. Visitation will be at Freeman Mortuary from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., Friday, August 12, 2011. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 13, 2011, in the Freeman Chapel with the Reverend Roy Barnard and the Reverend G. Dale Norfolk officiating. Graveside services and interment with military honors will be conducted at Hawthorn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Salem Baptist Church, California, Mo. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com