Green Bay – Carol Bickford Bush, age 96, died at home January 6, 2023.

Carol Adele Bickford was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on November 2, 1926, to Harold J. Bickford (1892-1959) and Edna Kavel Bickford (1898-1993).

Bicky (as she was known to her family) moved with her parents and siblings to Green Bay when she was 16. While attending East High School, she began her lifetime of volunteerism when she walked to a local school to read to the children. Her life mission became bringing fun to her family and helping those in need within the community. Bicky graduated from East High School in 1944 and enrolled at Beloit College where she received her degree in 1948. Her first job was teaching English, Horseback Riding and Lacrosse at Wayland Academy for two years. While there, her romance began with Bob Bush who visited regularly from his college experience at UW Madison. In 1950 they married. Bob was her biggest fan and the love of her life! A family soon followed which grew to four children, 14 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Their 69-year marriage was filled with love, respect, fun, and giving back, a strong model for generations of family.

Bicky lived all her days with zest, holding dear the belief that life was Making Every Day A Big Event. This began within her family by creating traditions for every holiday and birthday including April Fool's Day, May Day and Flag Day with celebrations large and small. She extended this fun to themed parties with friends and welcomed new community leaders by introducing them with dinners at their home, including coaches, college presidents and business and arts leaders. Bicky and Bob both loved attending UWGB women's basketball games. Bicky connected with the athletes and supported the coaching staff, giving time and treasure resulting in the court bearing her name – Carol's Court. Bicky led in a time when many leaders were men and was the first woman to serve on the YMCA Board of Directors. She was a whirlwind of ideas and developed clever new ways to fundraise, engaged others to join and contribute, and gave generously of her time. She created the Unity Hospice Development Council, the Cotton Club to support Heritage Hill, The Big Event for Little Kids to support Encompass and the Service League Parade of Homes to support children in Brown County. She ran the YMCA National Swim Meet held in GB in 1969 and was a Girl Scout Leader from Brownies through High School. She participated in many organizations including her PEO Chapter, the Dudley Birder Chorale, the Botanical Garden, Phoenix Fund Board, St. Norbert College and Union Congregational Church where she served as a Trustee, the Antiquarian Society, the Curative Workshop, the Symphony Board, the Weidner Center for Performing Arts Advisory Board and Unity Hospice.

Bicky received numerous awards including the Girl Scout Esther Bie Award for Community Service, Key to the City of Green Bay, The Mayor's Committee for Cleaner and Beautiful Green Bay Award for promotion with the Big Event for Little Kids, St. Norbert College President's Medal, UW Green Bay Chancellor's Award, United Way DeTocqueville Award, Unity Hospice Guardian Angel, YMCA Christian Leadership and the Seal of the City of Green Bay.

Bicky is survived by a large and adoring family; daughter Tracy (Tom) Arndt and their children Jennifer (Chris) Woodruff, Jon (Jenni) Arndt and Jay (Lindsay) Arndt; son Terry (Nan) Bush and their children Lindsay (Tommy) Velarde and Nicholas (Amanda) Bush; son Tom (Sue) Bush and their children Christopher, Brian (Melissa Milich), Michael (Fiancée Maddie Hilbrant) and Katherine Bush; and daughter Toni McBride and her children Molly, Cathryn and Sarah McBride; and great grandchildren Olivia, Tate, Carter, Ava and Chase Woodruff; Mason, Merrick and Blake Arndt; Sullivan, Calvin and Wilson Arndt; Alaura, Hudson and Arlow Velarde; Allison, Annabelle, Mireya and Nicholas Bush; and Brandon and Aiden Bush. She is further survived by many nieces and nephews. Bicky was the last family member of her generation, being preceded in death by her husband, Robert G. Bush, her three brothers John, Harold, and Edward Bickford, her brothers and sisters-in-law Richard and Joyce Bush, and Virginia and Roy (Bud) Zimmer, and grandchildren Allison and Austin Bush.

Bicky was loved by many and will be dearly missed. She made people around her feel special, her smile was quick, her laugh was contagious, her ability to think quickly and offer ideas was exciting to be around, and her desire to help others inspired so much good work.

A Gathering of Friends will begin Sunday, February 12, 11:30 am at Old St. Joseph Church, 123 Grant St, De Pere, WI. (on St. Norbert College campus) Guests are invited to wear bright colors, polka dots, or Carol's favorite color green in honor of her joyful spirit. A Memorial Service will follow in church at 1pm. Live stream of the service will be available through the SNC Parish YouTube Channel, www.youtube.com/@sncparish5911. A visitation and celebration of Carol's life immediately following will be held at the Bemis Center until 5pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Carol may be made to the Carol and Bob Bush Legacy Fund at Encompass Early Education & Care, P.O. Box 1627, Green Bay, WI 54305.