Denzel Niles Hickman, 81, of Delano passed away on May 25, 2015. Funeral services were held on Monday, June 1 at 2 pm at Cross Lutheran Church in Rockford, with Pastor Barlow officiating. Visitation was on Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Iten Funeral Home in Delano and continued on Monday from 1 to 2 p.m. at the church prior to services. Interment was in the Elmwood Cemetery in Rockford.

Denzel Niles Hickman was born on January 12, 1934 in Paynesville, son of Millard Hickman and Alice (Clark) Hickman. He entered the Air Force in October 1951, receiving an honorable discharge in November 1955. He was baptized as an adult on April 11, 1954 at St Paul”s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Harlingen, TX. He was a member of Cross Lutheran Church in Rockford for 53 years.

On August 5, 1953 Denzel was united in marriage to Sylvia Wendroth at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Eden Valley. This marriage was blessed with 9 children. They shared 54 years of marriage.

Denzel was most remembered for being a mechanic. He had a knack for looking at something and knowing what he could substitute or create to make it work. He could listen to an engine and tell you the problem with it, many people came to him for advice on mechanical issues. For many years Denzel repaired cars in the evenings and weekends as a sideline – which became a gathering time for friends and neighbors. This was the start of Hickman”s Service. Denzel retired from the maintenance department at Lakewood Cemetery in 1999 after 24 1/2 years of employment.

Denzel always had a story to tell, usually with a twinkle in his eye. He showed his love of family by gentle teasing and special “nicknames” for most everyone. Denzel could be found many evenings playing cards with his family and friends.

Denzel is survived by; daughter in law Teresa (Klayton) Schumm of Buffalo, MN; daughter Marie (Dan) Williamson of Dassel, MN; daughter Carol (Les) Reinhart of Buffalo, MN; daughter Kim Anderson (Robert Lubitz) of New York Mills, MN; son Turk (Vicki) Hickman of Buffalo, MN; son Dennis (Chris) Hickman of Watertown, MN; daughter Emma (Dan) Hanson of Delano, MN; son Joe (April) Hickman of Montrose, MN and son John (Amanda) Hickman of Corona, SD; thirty grandchildren, Tad Hickman, Kurt Schumm, Kyle Schumm, Kraig Schumm, Robert Wendler, James (Lisa) Wendler, Melinda Wendler, Mark (Becky) Wendler , Christina (Bryan) Klaphake, Lee (Jessica) Reinhart , Lillian Reinhart, Jed Reinhart, Jolynn (Chris) Green, Annie (Dustin) Charette, Kelsi Anderson, Mychelle Dexter (and fiance Ryan Fobbe), Niles (Jacie) Hickman, Neila (Travis) Spande , Jaylyn Hickman, Jerome Hickman, Tyler Hanson, Erin Hanson, Jacki Hanson, Josh Hickman, Cheyenne Hickman, Eli Hickman, Evan Hickman, Wyatt Hickman, Tucker Hickman, Seth Hickman and thirty great grandchildren; Andrew Wendler, Alicia Wendler, Matthew Wendler, Jayden Hinman, Mason Hinman, Mariah Hinman, Madilyn Hinman, Karissa Smalls, Kasari Rowe, Devon Wendler, Kasean Nelson, Cory Wendler, Daniel Wendler, Dominick Wendler, Arianna Wendler, Makayla Wendler, Carson Wendler, Hannah Wendler, Owen Klapahke, Evan Klapahke, Hunter Reinhart, Evelyn Reinhart, Aurora Hairshine, Ayden Muscha, Paige Green, Drake Green, Breyson Charette, baby Charette expected in August, Maci Hickman and Alex Hickman. He is further survived by his brothers Frank, Mark and Lee Hickman. His sisters Alice Tolzman, Violet Hamilton, Elaine Robbins, Mavis Pung, Laurie Weber, Ava Hickman and Loretta Foss. He was preceded in death by his wife Sylvia, son Clark Hickman, son in law Martin Anderson, granddaughter Whitney Hickman, parents Millard and Alice Hickman, brothers Roscoe, George, Gene, Mike and Steve, sister Mayme Sandry, infant brother Dwayne and infant sister Marion.