Many of you have been acquainted with insulator collector, Paul Ickes. I have just spoken with his wife Carol who informed me that Paul passed away Monday, October 20th, 1997. Paul was NIA member #1325 and has been an active collector in the hobby for many years. His participation in helping to organize the Missouri Valley Insulator Club led that organization to sponsor local, regional and national shows. His curly hair, handlebar mustache, bib overalls and hearty laugh made him a singular individual at major insulator shows and gatherings.
At the regional show in Albuquerque last month, many collectors were asking about Paul for they knew he was diagnosed with cancer just prior to the national show in Chicago and was about to begin chemotherapy upon his return to his home in Council Bluffs, Iowa right after the show's conclusion. Two rounds of chemotherapy took their toll on Paul's general strength and his heart gave out following a surgical procedure this past week.
Paul is survived by his wife, Carol, whose strength will come from her brother and sister-in-law who were neighbors of the Ickes. Cremation will be followed by the scattering of Paul's ashes at their Colorado mountain home. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to the school where Paul taught for many years:
Trumble Park Elementary School
500 Valley Road
Papillion, NE 68046
or, to the museum that Paul loved:
Sautter Museum
Papillion, NE 68046
Notes may be sent to his wife Carol Ickes at
53 Lakewood Lane
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
As one collector said of Paul recently,
"He is one of my favorite persons in this hobby!"
And that he was!
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Written Tuesday, October 21, 1997