Clifford Bickel, 83, of Anamosa, died Monday, September 29, 2025, of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at the Goettsch Funeral Home in Anamosa. Pastor Mark Ortgies will officiate. Burial will take place at Wilcox Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, October 6, 2025, at the funeral home. Please visit
Goettschonline.com to share your thoughts, memories, and condolences with them. Clifford Donald Bickel was born on December 22, 1941, in Central City, the son of Robert and Martha (LeClere) Bickel. He attended school in Central City and graduated from Central City High School in the Class of 1960. On October 29, 1964, he married Judy Zumbrunnen at Peace United Church of Christ in Monticello. Together they farmed on the Bickel Family Farm until Clifford took a job as a mechanic for Moser Implement. The couple moved to Martelle area and later purchased their own farm in the Stone City area. When Moser Implement closed, he went to work for Farm Service for many years, later working at Don Stickle Farms. He enjoyed wood working, working in his shop with his son Michael, and gardening â€" being well known for his colorful gladiolas. He was a farmer through and through. Never being one to sit around, he could often be seen mowing the field. He had a notorious sweet tooth and liked to make cookies and candy. He loved attending the many activities of his grandchildren, going to family gatherings, laughing and telling jokes â€" even about himself at times. He will be remembered as a kind individual who liked to socialize, run into friends he had not yet met, and lend a helping hand to anyone at any time. He is survived by his children Stan Bickel, Anamosa, Randy (Deb) Bickel, Central City, Laura (Greg Frank) Eaton, Pearl City, IL, and Michael Bickel, Anamosa, his grandchildren Nick Payne, Samantha (Austin) McAtee, Hilary (Jake Wilson) Bickel, Brooke (Levi Kozlowski) Bickel, Aaron (Lexi) Eaton, Miranda (Nate) Tumilty, Delanee Bickel, and Charlee Bickel, eight great-grandchildren, siblings Henry (Annitea) Bickel, Leonard Bickel, Donna Bickel, and Barbara (Dennis) Stevens, brothers-in-law Kenneth Westphal and Steve Zumbrunnen, sisters-in-law JoAnn Malley, Joyce Hill, Susan (Marty) Miller, and Shirley Zumbrunnen. He was preceded in death by his wife Judy in 2020, a grandson Brandon Bickel, a son-in-law Bill Eaton, his parents, his siblings Marie Westphal, Janet Bickel, and Larry Bickel, a sister and brother-in-law Jane and Russell Stiffler, and a sister Sharon Zumbrunnen.
Published by The Gazette on Oct. 3, 2025.