Adam Wickert

Adam Norman Wickert
Adam Norman Wickert, a devoted family man, proud veteran, and accomplished engineer, passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on February 11, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. Born on May 5, 1931, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to immigrants Adam and Tabea (Henschel) Wickert, he lived a full life marked by integrity and service.
Adam served in the United States Army as an artillery radar technician, attaining the rank of Sergeant First Class. He then pursued higher education on the GI Bill, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. He built a career in the aerospace industry, which brought him and his family to the East Coast, Texas, and California. His technical and managerial expertise made lasting contributions to the design of spacecraft for telecommunications and national defense.
Adam shared a loving marriage with his wife, Deborah (Barnes) Wickert, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, who passed away before him. Together, they raised their surviving daughter, Lisa (Wickert) Finley, son, Jonathan Adam Wickert, and three cherished granddaughters, Megan, Sarah, and Rebecca. Adam was predeceased by his brother, Elmer Raymond Wickert, and step-brother, Myron Wickert.
Later in life, Adam found loving companionship with his partner of thirty years, Valerie Slankard. They supported each other in their home in the charming town of Murphys, California. Adam and Valerie had many adventures traveling across the United States in their fifth-wheel camper and around the world, including trips to Mexico, Africa, Russia, Australia, and Europe. They vowed to grow old together and created memories along the way.
While Adam worked hard in his career, he found the greatest joy in his family, including camping trips in the West's national parks, and in the simple satisfaction of gardening, landscaping, and home improvement projects. He was a devoted Green Bay Packers fan and had fond memories of fishing on the Milwaukee River in his youth. Known for his practicality and sense of humor, he touched many lives and will be deeply missed.