On November 22, 2021 at 1230pm, our Dad left his home in Crete Nebraska for his last bobtail. He was born on November 25, 1944 to Sylvia and Ollie Hickman in Chicago, Illinois. Our dad’s upbringing was influenced by his mom’s large Polish family and traditions in Chicago and by his Dad’s rural family during his summers in Mississippi. Both worlds were led by strong and resilient women he loved like mothers. Thankfully, he and his sisters had them when they lost their mom in 1969. He was the oldest brother to sisters Nancy and Sharon who loved and looked up to him. The age difference meant he was getting married and leaving home when they were still young. He married the girl he met at the local Pizzeria in 1967. Together they would have an unusual life that crossed the northern border and brought 3 daughters and a son into the world before returning south.

He was a funny guy, quick witted guy with a youthful perspective and sense of humour. He was goofy, with clever quips and it wasn’t unusual for him to quote the likes of Sesame Street’s The Count, Foghorn Leg Horn, Daffy Duck and so many more. He had a memory for obscure one, two and three-liners that came out of the blue and always left you laughing. Thankfully, he gave us, his four children, this gift of wit and humour. He could be a frustrating, giant jerk and terrible co-pilot, too. He was empathetic, sensitive and music was a nostalgic escape for him. He wasn’t a social butterfly but made friends with those he met. He Preferred to live a local life with routine when he wasn’t on the road. He was proud of the plants he’d collected and nurtured, some for 30 years. His collections grew more recently to include over 100 clocks and dozens of western and southern depicted sketches and paintings. He enjoyed watching golf, formula one, the weather channel and repeats of the same dog show for some reason. He was proud of his kids and his grandchildren and loved us despite the distances and differences in political perspectives! He loved animals and especially the family dogs and his grand-dogs. He spent 40 years as a long-haul truck driver in Canada and the US. At retirement, he estimated he’d driven over 3-million miles accident free and had visited 10 provinces and all 48 lower states. He was a living road map and could rhyme off hiways, mile marker numbers and cities like he was playing a matching game. He was full of stories about beautiful sights, interesting sights, boring sights, scary sights, and horrible sights. A crappy blurry photo taken on the road would come to life with his witty commentary and descriptions. It was always a shame his camera skills were lacking. Whenever his travels allowed, he would return to Canada where his two oldest daughters and son lived to visit the zoo of kids at one house and the zoo of horses, donkey, various wildlife, and locals at the other. As often as possible he would bring his youngest daughter along for the fun! Countless adventures were had snowmobiling, ATVing and golf carting around the countryside and to “Cold North Winds” hunt camp where everything ran wild.

Our dad had always been healthy despite lifestyle choices as a young man, not-so young man, and later-in-life man in addition to his job hazards. He’d retired from trucking and took a job at the local Walmart as an assembler. It was a rocky transition but soon enough he fit right in and took pride in the work he did there, even collecting carts! He made many friends and found a work family he missed out on for so many years. In 2018 after having a hoarse voice that wouldn’t go away, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. His options were limited and chose treatment over surgery. With more grace and optimism than he’d ever exhibited, he endured a horrible 35-rounds of radiation to the neck. The Doctors never sugar coated how difficult the treatment would be but he got through it and once the fog and affects of treatment lifted, he found more joy in little things. He could be found quietly breathing in the soft sent in the air after a rain, fresh cut grass, or savour a simple egg, piece of cheese or half a dozen donuts. Unfortunately, the cancer cells found a new home in a different part of his throat and this time, surgery was the only option. In 2020, our dad’s first ever surgery was a complicated 12-hr ordeal that removed his voice-box and rebuilt his neck. He not only lost his voice forever that day, but also how he breathed, ate, drank, smelled, tasted, swallowed, and lived changing his life in unimaginable ways. It was a long and hard transition learning to live this new alien life…but he did and with surprising ability. In early 2021, the rogue cancers cells found another landing. This time, he was out of options. Despite the horrific adjustments he had to make and learn to live in such a different way, he was still hopeful. He endured another 30 rounds of radiation and biologic therapy. Despite the difficulty seeing any one of the specialists and team members he now had, he was always thankful for them.

He never wanted to talk about dying, he was young of mind, body, and spirit. It was hard to watch that battle between mind and body. He started having complications from the radiation that took his ability to eat and drink, two of his favourite things. Despite fighting to live and in such a foreign way, he died like he lived, quietly at home with his dog, family, and a touch of chaos. We each loved him in different ways, but he leaves one large and unique hole in our lives. He is survived by his spouse of 54 years, Renee, daughters Heather, Shannon (Dalton), Sarah (Jaryn) and son Noah (Kassie). He was a Grandfather to Heather’s kids, Jacob, Lucas, Hannah as well as Noah’s kids, Makaila and Kelan. He was a Papa to his dog, Stella and Grand-Papa to Shannon pup Doodles and Sarah’s dogs Ralphie and Ronnie.

A memorial is planned for Saturday April 9, 2022 between noon and 4pm at The Crete Youth Cabin, 877 Road 2350 Crete, Nebraska. Please come and join us for a casual and informal visit where we can enjoy stories, snacks, and refreshments…and laugh in a beautiful rural setting. All things he loved.

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