Hometown: Maquoketa, Iowa September 16, 1929 - May 07, 2015

John E. Bickford, 85, of Maquoketa, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at Alverno Health Care Facility in Clinton, Iowa. His funeral mass will be on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Maquoketa. His visitation will be at Lahey Funeral Home in Maquoketa on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m, with the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery in Anamosa, Iowa. John E. Bickford was born in rural Temple Hill, Iowa on September 16, 1929 to parents Howard and Matilda (Behrends) Bickford. He was united in marriage on August 13, 1957 to Laberta Secrist in Anamosa. He owned and operated Bickford Service Station in Maquoketa from 1958 until his retirement in 2002. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Maquoketa and K of C's in Preston, Iowa. John is survived by wife, Laberta of Clinton, his children; Louise Frasher of Anamosa, Diane Sneve of Rochester, MN, Karen (Mark) Stralow of Morrison, IL, Teresa (Mark) Lindstrom of Bryant, IA, Carmen Bickford of Marion, IA, Joan Ehlinger of Des Moines, IA, John P. (Melanie) Bickford of Muscatine, IA, Michael Bickford of Richmond, VA, Angela (Brad) Johnson of Egan, MN, Cecelia (Anthony) Jones of Des Moines, IA, and Gloria (Dr. Brian) Dornbush of Clinton, IA, 24 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and his sister, Dixie (Bob) Danly of Springville IA. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Edna Sievers, and his brothers; Harold, Charlie, Leroy, Raymond, Howard Jr. and Clayton. Memorials may be made in his memory to Sacred Heart School, Band Fund in Maquoketa.