Tracy L. Birchmier

Tracy (Hickle) Birchmier, age 60 of Maxwell, passed away on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City.

Born Tracy Lee Hickle on September 24, 1965 at Story County Medical Center in Nevada, the daughter of Vernon and Amber (Smith) Hickle. She graduated from Collins - Maxwell High School in 1984.

On October 28, 1989, Tracy was united in marriage with William Birchmier at St. Mary Catholic Church in Colo. They were blessed with three children: John, James, and Phelan.

Tracy was a loyal worker for Donnelly Marking and later, Farm Bureau. She retired from Farm Bureau in July of 2025. Most of Tracy’s time was dedicated to her family and faith. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Colo, where she was the CCD coordinator for 20+ years, helped with countless events and dinners, as well as served on the Altar and Rosary Society.

Tracy was also a 4H leader and an Assisted Scout Leader for Boy Scouts of America. She had other officially unofficial titles as well, serving as the recording secretary for St. James Cemetery in Colo. Tracy was very creative in all things she did, whether it was decorating cakes, making homemade treats for all of her children’s celebrations at school, creating activities and crafts for the kids at church, or going over the top on Christmas presents. Tracy was 100 percent dedicated to her ideas - even if she asked your opinion, her mind was already made up.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Bill; her children: John (Andrea) Birchmier, James Birchmier (Marisa Taylor), and Phelan (fiancé, Luke Ferguson); and her grandchildren: Collins, Journey, and Jagger. She is also survived by her sisters, Kristy (Jon) Armentrout and Lori (Jerry) Arends; sister-in-law, Ann (Brian) Wilkening; brothers-in-law, Brian (Sheryl) Birchmier, David (Rhonda) Birchmier, and Dan (Karmen) Birchmier; as well as her nieces, nephews and extended family members. In death she rejoins her parents: Vernon and Amber; in-laws, Albert Lee and Carol Birchmier; and sister-in-law, Kim Birchmier.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 P.M. on Friday, January 30, 2026 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Colo, with a rosary beginning at 4:00 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at St. Mary. Burial will be in St. James Cemetery in Colo. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the family for later designation to organizations near to Tracy’s heart.

Mitchell Family Funeral Home has been entrusted to care for Tracy and her family. To leave online condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234.