John Robert Hicken

John Robert Hicken passed away July 4, 2020 in the arms of his loving wife. He was stricken with the COVID-19 virus and admitted to the ICU at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo Utah. His hard-fought battle ended during the Grand Finale of the Fourth of July Fireworks as his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren held vigil in the parking lot below his hospital window.

Heber City, Utah has been John Robert’s home for his entire life. He was born to Irwin Todd and Ruby Price Hicken on January 30, 1938. He graduated from Wasatch High School with the class of 1956. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northwestern States Mission from 1958 – 1960. Following his mission, he attended BYU where he met the love of his life, Alice Witt Crook. They were sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple on June 27, 1961 by Harold B. Lee. They just celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary.

John Robert and Alice continued their schooling at BYU, until John Robert was called to active duty with the 115th Engineer Battalion of the National Guard where he served for nine months in Fort Lewis, Washington. Upon their return from Washington, they continued their education and graduated from BYU, both with degrees in education.

Following graduation, they moved to Heber City, where John Robert was employed by Wasatch County School District as a 6th grade teacher at the old North School. After six years, he started working as the School Business Official in the district office. He served with Superintendents Bert Gividen, Doug Merkley, and Henry Jolley. He was involved with building the Midway Elementary School, the J.R. Smith Elementary School, and the former Wasatch Middle school and swimming pool. He retired from the school district after thirty years.

John Robert worked as an insurance agent for the past 57 years. He built up his business with SentryWest Insurance Services. He was a long-time member of the Heber Valley Rotary Club, and he served as a member and chairman of the Intermountain Heber Hospital Board for many years.

John Robert had a love for farming and ranching. This love was passed down to him from his father. They spent many years working side by side - putting up hay, digging ditch, fixing fence, and working with the cattle in the North Fields. He was a hard worker, and he taught his children to work hard.

John Robert was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved the Lord and he loved to serve. He set a great example for his children. He and Alice served together in the Singapore Mission in 1997 for 18 months. They served together again in the New Jersey Cherry Hill Mission in 2005.

He loved spending time with his family, and he will be greatly missed.

John Robert is survived by his wife, Alice; their six children: Amelia (Gene) Prisbrey, Todd Royal (Sheri) Hicken, Alyson (Clayton) Hansen, Robert John (Jill) Hicken, Adam Price (Julie) Hicken, and Aaron Taylor (Becky) Hicken; twenty-one grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; brothers: Glen Irwin (Carroll Lee) Hicken and Wayne Price (Charlene) Hicken. Preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Audrey Hicken Probst, his best friend.

A viewing will be held Friday, July 10, 2020 at the Heber East Stake Center (2395 South Mill Rd, Heber City, Utah) from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Saturday, July 11, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. with a viewing from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the same location. Interment will be in the Heber City Cemetery.
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