Hans Christopher Bichsel

###Update###Special parking provisions have been announced for the funeral of Hans Bichsel Thursday morning at 11AM in First Presbyterian Church at New Philadelphia. For attendee’s traveling to the cemetery, the procession will form in the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church, accessible by Ashwood Lane behind the church. Those attending the service, but not traveling to the cemetery, are asked to park in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church Parking lot, across East High Avenue from the Presbyterian Church, or in the parking lot of the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory, on the corner of Second and East High Avenue. The church is handicapped accessible by way of the rear entrance. Special parking to accommodate those disabilities will be available from Ashwood Lane. ###End###Hans Christopher Bichsel, age 43, of the Oldtown Valley, New Philadelphia, died Monday, November 26, 2007, in Mercy Medical Center at Canton. Born September 12, 1964, Hans was a son of Jerry and Sandra “Tyke” Schoelles Bichsel, who reside on the family farm in the Oldtown Valley. As a non-smoker Hans valiantly battled lung cancer. For the past year had the support of hundreds of family and friends who offered up prayers and pitched in to tend to chores around the house. This attention caught Hans off guard, as his low-key demeanor made him more comfortable keeping his own company. Never throughout his illness, did Hans complain. A 1983 graduate of New Philadelphia High School, Hans was an aquatic standout for the Big Orange swim team at the Tuscarawas County YMCA where his record for the 100 meter back stroke stood for twenty-five years. As a young man, he was active in the 4-H and Junior Fair Board activities. Following High School, Hans attended Delaware Valley College. But after learning how to drive a tractor at the age of ten, Hans pined for life on the farm, and quickly returned to the Tuscarawas Valley. For the past twenty-five years, Hans has managed the Bichsel farm. Additionally, Hans was part of the third generation of the Bichsel family to own and operate the Goshen Dairy Company where he was responsible for plant operations. Hans was also and shareholder and board member of Marketplace Distributors Inc. At the time of his death, he owned and operated TEZMA Â? a milk hauling company that delivered milk to both the Steiner Cheese House and Pearl Valley Cheese. Hans was a member of Port Washington Lodge # 202, F. & A.M; the First Presbyterian Church at New Philadelphia where he served as a Deacon, and the Northeast Ohio Dairy Tech Society, where he served the organization as president. Hans will be remembered by his family for his calm even keeled demeanor, a second-to-none work ethic, his dedication to his family, and for his sense of humor. He’ll be sadly missed by his wife, the former Sherry Kilpatrick of New Philadelphia, whom he married April 7, 1990; three daughters, Maggie, Abby and Elle Bichsel, all of the home, four sisters; Kandace Bichsel of New Philadelphia, Kim (Brad) Hillyer of Dennison, Beth (Mark) Tomson of Baltimore, Ohio, and Heidi (Rob) Frutchey, of Longmont, Colorado, two brothers; Erich (Kari) Bichsel of Dover, and Chris (Jillian) Bichsel of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Hans was a hero to his twenty-four nieces and nephews, Stephanie Napier, Leslie (Shane) Blake, Andrew Napier and Alex (Natalie) Napier, all of New Philadelphia, Katy Hillyer, Jacob Bichsel-Hillyer and Alec Bichsel-Hillyer of Dennison, Ty Tomson, Jacelyn Tomson, Marshall Tomson, and Morgan Tomson, all of Baltimore, Ohio, Robby Frutchey, Ben Frutchey, Sam Frutchey and Maddy Frutchey, all of Longmont, Colorado, Jack Bichsel and Annie Bichsel of Dover, and Sydney and Lauren Bichsel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Keegan Kilpatrick of Granger, Indiana, and Colin Kilpatrick of Binghamton, New York, his great-nephews whom he nicknamed his Â?lil gearheads, Cael and Gavin Blake, and Xaden Mann.The family also includes his father and mother-in-law, Larry (Pat) Kilpatrick of New Philadelphia, two brothers-in-law, Todd Kilpatrick of Cleveland, Greg (Tia) Kilpatrick of Granger, Indiana, and a sister-in-law, Jody Kilpatrick of New Philadelphia. A step-grandmother, Evelyn Bichsel of New Philadelphia, completes the family.The family will receive guests Wednesday, November 28, from 2-4 and from 6-8PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. The Reverend Richard Greenwood will lead the Bichsel Funeral Thursday morning at 11 in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow in Evergreen Burial Park. Following the committal service, a reception will follow in the Geib Funeral Center, 5600 North Wooster Avenue Dover. Hans would have eschewed the attention he received from his neighbors and acquaintances since his illness, but was deeply touched by the support of over six hundred guests at a recent benefit held in his honor. His family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Tuscarawas County 4-H Program in care of Janet Kemp, 1055 Darrell Drive NE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.Or to a scholarship fund for the benefit of his daughters Maggie, Abby and Elle; The Bichsel Scholarship, in care of the First National Bank of Dennison, 105 Grant Street, Dennison, OH 44629. Linn-Hert-Geib(330)343-5506www.geibfuneral.com