West Branch, Iowa Robert J. Bickford, 75, passed away Sunday May 22, 2016 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. A celebration of life will be held 10:30 A.M. Thursday, May 26, 2016 at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch. Visitation will be Wednesday 4 to 7 P.M. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the West Branch Cemetery. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com. A memorial fund has been established. The family has requested casual dress when attending the visitation and celebration of life. Robert James Bickford was born September 10, 1940 in Claremont, New Hampshire the son of Orville and Jennie (Johnson) Bickford. He was baptized June 20, 1943 at the West Unity United Methodist Church, West Unity, New Hampshire. He was a graduate of West Branch High School in the Class of 1958. Bob served in the US Army from 1958 – 1961 stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. On August 18, 1963 he was united in marriage to the former Mary Sue Harrington, at First Baptist Church in Iowa City celebrating their 50th anniversary in Grand Lake, Colorado. Bob was employed with Procter and Gamble in Iowa City in 1965 and promoted to management in 1974. In April 1994 Bob finished his career at P&G as a Staff Industrial Engineer where he utilized all the skills and experiences that he had developed in his career. He developed a personal computer based production planning application that was used in Iowa City and then reapplied at other P&G location in the US and internationally. Bob also became an expert and an accomplished trainer in rapid changeover techniques and traveled the globe training and consulting at many different sites. He led the Iowa City Plant’s entry into the club store business and was recognized for building this key business area through his entrepreneurial spirit and organizational ability. He was a member of the Downey Baptist Church. Bob had a special bond with 5 Boston Terriers, was a skilled woodworker and many children have enjoyed the chairs and rocking horses he made. Bob enjoyed hosting backyard BBQ’s. He and Sue enjoyed camping and the many trips they made; going to Colorado every summer, trout fishing, hiking in the high country, exploring old ghost towns and mines, cross country ski trips to Northern Wisconsin and the last 18 years camping trip to Sunrise Bay Camp Ground at Nelson Lake, Hayward, Wisconsin. He is survived by his wife Mary Sue, brothers: Charles (Cleva) Bickford, Don Bickford, Norman (Pat) Bickford, Dean (Twyla) Bickford and Bruce (Diane) Bickford, sisters: Kathy Leong and Ella (Doug) VanCamp. Also surviving is a sister-in-law: Dixie (Wayne) Walker, a special nephew Steve (Joey) Young and their family Ryan, Jamie, Luke and Jack as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother David and mother-in-law Bennie Harrington. A special thank you to the Doctors and staff at the UIHC, especially Dr. Antonio Sanchez, Dr. Daniel Katz, Dr. Aaron Scott and Dr. Lillian Erdahl.