Gena "Jay" Bicknese, 54, of Bigelow, Minnesota, was born on March 27, 1954, in Fairbanks, Alaska, the son of Gene and Gretchen (Racine) Bicknese. He graduated from Worthington High School in 1972 and from Alexandria Tech Diesel Program in 1974. Jay farmed south of Reading until 1986. He then worked for Worthington Tractor Parts and Iowa Falls Tractor Parts until 1995. Jay was currently an owner/operator truck driver for LeRoy Prins. He was a member of the Church of the Brethren in Reading. He was also a member and newsletter editor of the Dakota AMC Club. Jay enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. He loved working on cars with his boys, attending car shows, playing with his grandbabies, and sipping slow cups of coffee at the Blueline Café with his beloved family and friends. Jay died on Friday, July 18, 2008, in Springfield, Illinois.
Jay is survived by his parents, Gene and Gretchen Bicknese of Worthington, MN; three children, Josh (Jessica) Bicknese of Sioux Falls, SD, Jonathan (Jennifer) Bicknese of Ramsey, MN, and Brianna (Jared) Magnuson of Sioux Falls, SD; two grandchildren, Dawson and Connor; life partner, Pam Bandow of Bigelow, MN, and her children, Ali (Tom) and Ben (Ashley); one brother, Leo Bicknese of Worthington; nephews, Andrew (Krista) and Larry; an uncle, Byron (Alice) Bicknese of Worthington, MN; aunts, Patsy Heusinkveld of Preston, MN and Jean Racine of Worthington, MN. He was preceded in death by grandparents, Guy and Jennie Bicknese and Leo and Elsie Racine, uncles Leland Heusinkveld and Marshall Racine.
Funeral services will be on Friday, July 25, 2008, at 10:30 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Worthington, Minnesota, with the Rev. Mike Zaske officiating. Burial will be in the Elk Brethren Cemetery in Reading, Minnesota.
Visitation will be on Thursday, July 24, 2008, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the Benson Funeral Home in Worthington.
