Gerald “Ivan” Hickenbottom passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on Nov. 10, 2021, in Enumclaw, Washington, with his wife, Joyce, by his side.
Ivan was born on April 25, 1933, to Mabel Ruth Hickenbottom and Clarence E. Hickenbottom of Enumclaw, Wash. He was the ninth of 11 children in a loving and close family. He spoke very fondly of life on the farm.
He graduated from Enumclaw High School in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army Band playing the clarinet in Anchorage, Alaska, and attended Western Washington Teacher’s College in Bellingham, Wash., earning his teaching degree. At Western, he met Ruth Joan Addie of Port Townsend, Wash. They were married on March 22, 1959, at the Port Townsend First Baptist Church.
Ivan and Ruth taught on U.S. military bases in Newfoundland, Canada, and Chateauroux, France. He then taught in Diablo, Wash., and finally Port Townsend, Wash., where he taught for more than 20 years, mostly at Grant Street Elementary. Ivan and Ruth raised four daughters; Nadine, Nola, Nannette, and Nicole. They also welcomed many foster children into their lives. Together they built and operated Learning Playcare daycare center and Alpha Omega Christian School. In August of 1996, he lost Ruth, his wife of 37 years.
In 2008 he married childhood sweetheart Helen “Joyce” Umek, of Enumclaw. Ivan and Joyce enjoyed their communities in Port Townsend, Enumclaw, and Sun Lakes, Arizona. As Ivan’s Alzheimers worsened, they finally settled in their Enumclaw home. Ivan moved to a memory care residence in December 2020 after a serious stroke.
Ivan loved music! In addition to playing clarinet, he sang tenor in choirs and barbershop groups. He sang wherever he went and knew a song for every occasion. He enjoyed traveling throughout North America and Europe and eventually visited every continent. His other interests included playing Scrabble, acting with the Key City Players, dancing, bowling, running, cycling, hiking, and anything his girls were doing. He loved to laugh and enjoyed puns. Whatever he did, he enjoyed every minute of it.
Ivan will be remembered as a loving family member, a kind and gifted teacher, and a genuine friend. He will be remembered for the song in his heart and his tenor voice. He had a consistently optimistic outlook and was grateful for life, frequently saying, “Things will always work out.” He was a gracious man who often observed that “God has been so good to me!”
He is survived by his wife, Joyce; his daughters, Nadine Santo Pietro (Vince), Nola Ware (Steven), Nannette Lemons (Steve), and Nicole Hickenbottom (Gunnar Mueller); grandchildren, Nathan, Benjamin, Gabriel, Zachary, and Sophie; children welcomed with Joyce, Amy French, Greta Plourd (Jason), Mark French, and Greg French; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his sister, Jean Rudser, and brothers Harold and Jim; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held in Port Townsend on April 2, 2022; details to be determined.
