Norman Bikoff

The world has lost a husband, father, grandfather, friend, hard worker, and merry prankster.

Norman Bikoff, of Camby, passed away at home Sept. 2 following a long illness. He was 72.
Born Aug. 24, 1945 in Gary, Indiana, to the late Wassell and Helen (Hanton) Bikoff, Norm spent his childhood roaming the Tolleston neighborhood with his bothers Bob and David, enjoying baseball and football, and having fun with his friends.

The family moved to Merrillville when Norman was in high school, and in 1963, he met the woman who would become his bride. Linda was his light, and their marriage would span a half century.

He went to work at U.S. Steel after graduation from Merrillville High School, but his time at the mill was interrupted by the Vietnam War. He was drafted and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, he was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, and Norm and Linda were married July 15, 1967.

After being honorably discharged, the young couple settled in Merrillville. Norman returned to U.S. Steel, and a daughter, Kim, and a son, Ken, soon followed. Norman and his bride raised their family in a small house on Hendricks Street, with Norman filling his days with work, bowling, golf, softball, and, at the right times of the year, the Los Angeles Rams, the Chicago White Sox, and IU athletics.

Norman retired from U.S. Steel after 39 years as a vicing foreman in 2003, and he and Linda built a home in Camby, Indiana, in 2006. He became a fierce friend to everyone in the neighborhood, regaling them with long stories of his exploits, and he became president of the Madison Township Merit Board.

Norman was fastidious about his lawn, managed to make friends halfway round the globe without standing up from his computer, and although he was never on time, he managed to endear himself to all.

He was preceeded in death by his mother, his father, his brother, Bob, and his grandson, Alexander. He is survived by his bride, Linda; his brother, David; his sister-in-law Betsy; his daughter, Kim (Lehr); his son-in-law, Jim Lehr; his son, Ken; his daughter-in-law Lauren (Paetsch); and his grandchildren Nick and Charlie Bikoff.

Visitation will be held Wednesday Sept. 6 from 2-4pm in Carlisle-Branson Funeral Service & Crematory in Mooresville, with funeral services to be held immediately following visitation at Carlisle-Branson.

Please visit www.CarlisleBranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.