Obituary

Michael passed away peacefully on 19th January 2024 in his home in Guelph, Ontario surrounded by his family. Mike was the loving and devoted husband of Valerie (Watt) for nearly sixty-two years and the father of Paul Hickman (Karen) and Sarah Leal (Luis), grandfather to Madison Leal and Cole Hickman and brother to Roger John Hickman in England. Mike was born 29 August 1935 to Harold Owen Christie Hickman and Eleanor Marion Yeabsley of Charlton Kings, Glos., England. He was educated as a professional engineer in England and he completed his National Service in Hong Kong, before returning to the Dowty Group in England. He emigrated to Canada, followed by Valerie, where they were married in Pickering, Ontario. Mike’s career was spent working for two different companies – The Dowty Group in Cheltenham, England and GSW in Fergus, Ontario, who manufactured pumps. His talents enabled him to become Vice President and General Manager of companies in both Canada and the United States until he returned to Canada to retire in 2000. Mike then started his own consulting company designing and sourcing precision parts for North American pump companies from sources in China, Taiwan, Brazil and Mexico. In his younger days Mike was a competitive swimmer who also played water polo in Cheltenham. Mike was a member of the RAF water polo team located in Hong Kong but when he returned to the industry, golf became his only sport. A celebration of remembrance will be held in Guelph in the spring with details to follow. Arrangements entrusted to Wall-Custance Funeral Home & Chapel (519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com). Should anyone wish to honour Mike’s memory, we would be grateful if you would consider a charitable donation to the Foundation of Guelph’s General Hospital. A tree will be planted in memory of Michael O. Hickman in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.