Services for Mr. Bicknell will be held at Eminence Christian Church in rural Atlanta.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the church, and for one hour prior to the service on Monday beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 4, 2026, at Eminence Christian Church at 10:30 a.m. with Mr. Warren Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Mountjoy Cemetery in rural Atlanta.
Richard Charles Bicknell was born May 14, 1945, in Lincoln, IL, the son of Leland “Nick” C. and Bertha Beare Bicknell. He was united in marriage to Janice Berta in August 1983, at Funks Grove. She survives.
Dick is also survived by three daughters: Diane Bicknell, Sara (Matt) Wheeler, and Susan (Steve) Tracy; one granddaughter, Cooper Tracy; one brother-in-law, George Van Hoorn; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Audra Van Hoorn, and sister and brother-in-law, Alice and Gene Turner.
Dick was a graduate of Atlanta High School. He completed both his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Math, and his Master’s Degree in Chemistry, at Illinois State University. He retired after 35 years of teaching, having spent most of those years at Lincoln Community High School. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, mushroom hunting, collecting antiques, and reading. He had also served as Atlanta Township Supervisor for more than 20 years.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association or the Atlanta Public Library.
Final arrangements are entrusted with Quiram-Peasley Funeral Home of Atlanta.
5 Responses
Sympathies to the family. Mr Bicknell was my high school chemistry teacher at LCHS in 74-76. He was a great teacher. He truly made chemistry an enjoyable class.
I am so very sorry for Janice Bicknell’s and the girls’ loss. Mr. Bicknell was truly my favorite teacher of all time. He was so intelligent. He took chemistry and lab safety seriously. He nurtured my love of science and gave me so many opportunities to grow in and outside of his classroom. He was so kind and nurturing to me. I will always remember his sayings and his smile. May God Bless you, Mr. Bicknell. Thank you for encouraging me to be a scientist and to follow my dreams. As he always said, “I’ve seen some do more with less intelligence than you. You can do it, kid!”
Mr. Bicknell played a profound role in my life. I took all the chemistry LCHS offered in 1980-82 and it was my favorite subject, in large part due to this man. Chemistry can be interesting sometimes, but he made it special. The fall of my senior year, not knowing what I wanted to do or where I might go to school, Mr. Bicknell had been such an example that I just applied to the school he went to (ISU) and chose chemistry as my major, graduating in 1987. It was my only college application. This experience allowed me to meet my wonderful wife of 35 years and qulaified me for a job at Caterpillar where I worked for 30 years. Now I’ve worked for the last 8 years at BASF, the largest chemical company in the world. My life would have been dramatically different without this man’s expertise as an educator who both cared for a scared some students a little. I always enjoy talking about him with my older sister and others who had the chance to experience him as a teacher. I’ve not seen him since 1983 (or ever without hair!), but I’m very glad for the opportunity Sunday night to attend his visitation and pay my respects. Godspeed, Mr. Bicknell. God’s Peace to your family, sir. -GMM
Mr. Bicknell was one of the best teachers I ever had… EVER! He is why I loved Chemistry and took two years at LCHS. He was hard, fair, funny, cared for his students, made learning fun… the list goes on and on. The last time I saw him was at my mom’s auction. It was fun to chat and catch up. He will always be one of my best memories of LCHS! God bless Mrs. Bicknell and the entire Bicknell family.
My condolences to the Bicknell family. Mr. Bicknell was my Chemistry and Organic Chemistry teacher at LCHS. I attribute my success in college Chemistry to being in his classes. Maggie May-Ruble ‘77