FICKEN, William L. (1904 - 1988)

FICKEN, KING, BURNSTEIN, BURNS, DRYDEN, PETERSON, BERGMAN

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 12/2/2009 at 13:37:16

Mason City Globe Gazette

William L. Ficken

ROCKWELL - William L. Ficken, 84, of 303 Maple in Rockwll, died Sunday (May 22, 1988) at a Mason City hospital.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Rockwell. The Rev. Perry R. Heller will officiate with burial in Rockwell Cemetery.

Mr. Ficken was born Feb. 12, 1904, east of Rockwell, the son of George and Bertha (Burnstein) Ficken. He attended Rockwell country schools. He then was employed on the paving gang of old Highway 65, later attending the Des Moines Barber College. He then worked as a barber in Des Moines.

On Oct. 12, 1926, he was married to Bessie Ruth King at Carroll. They farmed from 1929 to 1960 east of Rockwell on the family farm where he was born. They then moved into town.

They enjoyed traveling and he and his wife had visited every state, except Hawaii.

He was a school bus driver for 17 years. He also played Santa Claus for the city of Rockwell for 25 years. He remained active in barbering and was still working at the Rockwell Care Center.

He was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, Rockwell Fire Department and social member at the Gallagher Post of the American Legion.

Visitation will be after 2 p.m. Wednesday at Patterson James Funeral Chapel in Rockwell.

Survivors include his wife, Bessie; one daughter, Mrs. Woodrow (Ruth) Bergman, Rockwell; two sisters, Mrs. Bill (Anne) Burns, Dryden of Canada, and Mrs. Johnnie (Dorothy) Peterson, Mason City; one brother, Henry, Jesup; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, one son, Charles, and one grandson, Billy.