Darwin C. "Bud" Bichel, 88, long time resident of East Moline, died Wednesday, August 15, 2012 as OSF St. Francis, Peoria. Funeral services are 2PM Sunday at Van Hoe Funeral Home Ltd., East Moline. Private burial will be in Rose Lawn Memorial Estate, Moline. Visitation is from 1PM until service time. Memorials may be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Moline, where he was a member. Bud was born July 10, 1924 in Wakefield, NE, the son of Carl and Renetta (Longe) Bichel. He married Laurentza Edwards on August 17, 1947. She died May 1, 1984. He later married Helen Sprott on March 25, 1989. She died April 1, 2006. Mr. Bichel received his masters in Agricultural Engineering from Iowa State University in 1953. He retired as Senior Division Engineer at John Deere Harvester Works, East Moline in 1986. He then served as a consultant for several years. Bud was an avid gardener, fisherman and hunter. He cherished the time at his cabin at Lake Okoboji. He proudly served in the US Army during WWII. Survivors include his children (spouses), Virginia (Andy Anderson) Davis, Hampton, Marsha (Gary) Sanders, Moline, Barbara Bichel, Moline, Gloria (Greg) Flynn, East Moline and Douglas Bichel, Moline, ten grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and siblings, Lois Schouweiler, Joyce Walker, Norma Peterson, Lavonne Lewis, Eileen Jamesin and Russell Bichel. In addition to his wives, he is preceded in death by his grandson Jonathan Davis, a sister and 2 brothers.

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