Barbara Jeanne Hinegardner Bicard

Barbara Jeanne (Hinegardner) Bicard age 72 passed away from heart problems at home on Saturday October 15 with her family by her side. Barbara was born on December 11, 1943 in Buchanan, Michigan at Kelly’s Maternity Home to Rueben Hinegardner and Gladys (Cramer) Hinegardner.  She had an older brother, Frank, who was thrilled to finally have a little sister.  Barbara grew up in Buchanan and went to Buchanan High School from elementary school through her high school years.  She graduated from Southwestern Michigan College with a double associate degree in Accounting and Business Administration. Barbara was married to the love of her life, David Anthony Bicard, for over fifty years. They were married on January 8, 1966 during a snow blizzard.  They were married at Lydick Methodist Church in Lydick, Indiana, where David’s oldest sister (Ramona) and her husband had been married.  Except for three years living in Cicero, Illinois they lived all their married life in Niles, Michigan, where they raised their three children. Most of Barbara’s adult working life was spent at the former Pawating Hospital (now Lakeland Hospital) in Niles, Michigan. She worked there in the accounting department for 20 years, then she worked at a manufacturing plant in Dowagiac, Michigan for 13 ½ years. Before she retired she also worked as a teacher’s aide with Niles Community Schools for 2 years, which she loved.  She worked mostly at Northside School and at Southside School. Barbara enjoyed reading (mostly murder mysteries), crocheting, golfing with her husband and other family members and going to the casino once or twice a month. She also enjoyed the times she got to spend with her Hinegardner cousins for their “girl cousin’s reunion”.  They really didn’t limit their get together to just the girls as some of her boy cousins got with them too and some of the cousin’s children were also able to spend time with them. Those were special and fun times for her as some of them she didn’t get to really know until her later years; they were all older than her and lived all across the county from North Dakota, Wyoming, Oregon, California and Nevada. Barbara’s greatest joy and love were her three children, seven grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She loved spending time with all of them whether it was just in her home or going to their various athletic and other school events.  David and Barb also enjoyed the times they hosted their Bicard/Hinegardner and friends get together as often as they could.  They loved to keep up with what their friends and family were doing and how their families were growing. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Rueben Hinegardner and Gladys (Hinegardner) Taylor and her beloved brother, Frank Hinegardner. She was also preceded by her step-parents, Gilbert Taylor and Evelyn (Myers) Hinegardner.  Her second oldest nephew, Michael Hinegardner, also preceded her in death. Those left to survive her are her loving husband, David Bicard and her three children and their families. Their children are: Beth (Randy) Schultz of Niles, MI, Becky Bicard Adams of Edwardsburg, MI and their son David F. (Sara) Bicard of Pike Road, AL.  They have 6 loving granddaughters and one adorable grandson.  They are Beth’s children: Jocelyn Schultz of Niles, MI and Janelle Sprow (Sam) of Mishawaka, IN.  Becky’s children: Katelyn, Natalie and Sarah Adams of Edwardsburg and David’s children: Niles and Sadie Bicard of Pike Road, AL.  David and Barb have also been blessed to have 2 wonderful great-grandsons from granddaughter Jocelyn, they are Aaron and Braden Manigold of Niles, MI and a great-granddaughter, Carrolyn Sprow, daughter of Janelle’s husband Sam. Additional family left to survive her are her brother, Frank’s, four remaining sons and their families. They are Frank “Skip” (Karen) Hinegardner of Fishers, IN and their children and grandchildren, John (Cheryl) Hinegardner of Edwardsburg, MI, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, David (Sherry) Hinegardner of Niles, MI, their children and grandchildren and Brian (Kathy) Hinegardner of Elkhart, IN and their daughter, Amanda.  Barbara also leaves behind David’s remaining brother, Patrick of Rockford, IL and his many nieces, nephews and their families.  She was truly blessed to have so many loving and caring family members.  She loved them all. The pallbearers for Barbara will be her nephews and great-nephews. They are Frank Hinegardner, John Hinegardner, David Hinegardner, Brian Hinegardner and David Lee Hinegardner and Michael Dallas Hinegardner.  Honorary Pallbearers are Randy Schultz, Aaron Manigold, Braden Manigold. A visitation will be held on Monday October 17 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Swem Chapel in Buchanan where services celebrating her life will be held on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. also at Swem Chapel. To sign her guest book or leave a condolence message please visit www.swemchapel.com.