Jane Louise Bickford, 97, died June 26, 2017, at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King.

Jane was born in Davenport, Iowa, May 19,1920, to Henry C. and Ruth (Thee) Thoensen.

After graduation from Davenport High School in 1938, she attended Iowa Teachers College and subsequently taught for two years in a one room school house in Mount Joy, Iowa.

She then attended the University of Iowa School of Nursing and graduated as a registered nurse in 1944.

She was married to Robert H. Bickford in December of 1944. During his ministry, military and medical careers she created homes for her family in Iowa, New York, Maryland and Oklahoma before moving to Stevens Point in 1956.

After her children were mostly grown, she resumed her nursing career at St. Michael’s Hospital in Stevens Point during the development of the intensive care and kidney dialysis units. She also enjoyed administrative nursing as the director of nursing at River Pines in Stevens Point and the Crystal River Nursing Home in Waupaca.

A Red Cross nursing pin was received in 1950 for her work during the polio epidemic. She was active in the Girl Scouts of America and participated in many local committees and boards. She played the cello and performed in, and was secretary for, the Central Wisconsin Orchestra from 1955-1973. She was a proud member of PEO, receiving her 50-year membership.

During retirement she enjoyed traveling and spending her winters in Arizona and Texas.

Due to declining health, she became a resident of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King in December 2012.

Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Robert H. Bickford, in 2000; and her daughter, Nancy Bickford, in 2016.

She is survived by her son, Dennis (Kathy) Bickford in La Luz, N.M.; daughter, Janice (Gary) Heikenen, Keweenaw County, Mich.; and youngest son, Thomas, Stevens Point.

Per her request, there will be no funeral or memorial services. Interment of cremains will be in the Rock Island National Cemetery.

Her dignity, strength, sense of adventure, love of nature and nurturing spirit will be greatly missed.