Rev. Fred E. Bickhart, age 90, of Washington, Iowa, died Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at the Washington County Hospital after a brief illness.

Celebration of life services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 14, 2013 at the First Christian Church with Pastor Colton Clay officiating. Visitation will begin noon Saturday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 2:00 until 4:00 Saturday afternoon. Interment with military honors conducted by Washington American Legion Post 29 will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa. A memorial has been established for the First Christian Church. Online condolences may be sent for Fred's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com

Fred was born May 5, 1923 in Minneapolis, Minnesota the son of Edward Cecil and Irene (Preston) Bickhart. He graduated from high school in Corona, California, and went on to serve in the United States Navy. During his military service, Fred attended U.C.L.A. Following his service in the military, he attended L.I.F.E. Bible College in Los Angeles. Fred was united in marriage to Eva Stevens on July 28, 1948 in Long Beach, California.

Following their marriage, Fred and Eva moved back to Washington, Iowa where Fred attended Washington Junior College. He pastored a church in Huntington Beach, California from 1950-1951, and he entered the mission field in January of 1953. Fred served in Africa from 1953-1957, and came back to the States in 1958. He then went on to study at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, California.

From 1962-1966, he pastored a church in Honolulu, Hawaii, and returned to Washington in 1966. He served as the pastor of the Christian Tabernacle in Washington, the Church of the Living Word, and later the Berean Fellowship Church. He was currently serving as the associate pastor of the First Christian Church in Washington. In his late 60s, he attended Indian Hills College and became a certified E.M.T.I. He worked for the Washington County Ambulance from 1990-1999.

Fred enjoyed golfing, woodworking, and being around people. He was a member of the Washington American Legion. Fred was honored to have been included in the book We Lucky Few.

He is survived by his wife, Eva Bickhart of Washington, Iowa; daughter Jeanne Arnold and husband Steve of Washington, Iowa; son Daniel Steven Bickhart of Hampton, Iowa; three grandchildren: Tim Arnold and wife Danielle of Allenstown, New Hampshire; Eva Arnold of Washington, Iowa; and Annetta Torres and husband Tomas of Bolingbrook, Illinois; and one great-granddaughter, Nina Arnold of Allenstown, New Hampshire.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers: Ed, Don, and Robert, and one sister, Jeannette.