Gene S. Bickwermert

Gene S. Bickwermert, 83, of Hayden Road, Owensboro, died Monday, August 31, 2010 at Owensboro Medical Health System. Gene was born in Daviess County to the late Joseph B. and Lucy A. (Schaffer) Bickwermert. He was a Navy Veteran of WWII, and a member of VFW. He had many vocations including owner of Bickwermert's Body Shop, delivering the Messenger- Inquirer for 21 years, a sales clerk for Rural King, and EMT, and was a volunteer fireman for Thruston-Philpot Volunteer Fire Department for over 25 years, currently on the Auxillary, and was "Santa" for them for 30 years, Scoutmaster for Troop # 120 for 30 years, and was awarded the Silver Beaver Award, the highest adult leadership award in scouting. He was on the St. Pius X cooking team and was a former CCD instructor along with his wife Bernadette, a member of Knights of Columbus Council 817, former Grand Knight, and a Kentucky Colonel. He was currently a member of Sts. Joseph and Paul Catholic Church. He was on the Ursuline Pitt Team in Louisville, REC, and Cursillo, and volunteered at the Help Office. Gene enjoyed gardening, woodworking, barbequing, and fishing. His passions were his wife and his family.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Bernadette Bickwermert in 2009, two sisters, Margaret Coomes, Edna Bickwermert, a brother, Joe Bickwermert, and son-in-law, Ben Salmon.

Surviving are his daughters, Sheila (Bill) Kyle of Owensboro, Agnes (Les) Allen of Louisville, Mary Bickwermert Salmon of Owensboro, Maria (Mike) Osowicz of Owensboro, and an adopted daughter, Valeria Bickwermert of Montana, sons, Steve Bickwermert of Montana, Gregg(Julie) Bickwermert of Texas, Chris (Ruthie) Bickwermert of Whitesville, Joe (Debbie) Bickwermert and Pat Bickwermert of Owensboro, and Tom Bickwermert of Whitesville, three sisters, Frances Carrico, Marie James, and Betty (Bob) Babbitt all of Owensboro, 20 grandchildren and many great- grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday at Sts Joseph and Paul Catholic Church with Fr. Carl McCarthy officiating. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 2 to 8 p.m. with prayers for Gene and his family at 7 p.m., and also visitation Thursday after 9 a.m. The family has requested that expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to the Help Office or to Shriner's Children Hospital.