John’s father was active in the military during WWII, stationed at Schofield barracks in Hawaii. At the age of six, John, Jr. was witness during the attack on nearby Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. John graduated from Baton Rouge High in 1954 and received two degrees from LSU College; BA in History in 1958 and Master’s in Library Science in 1966. John served in the US Army active duty from 1959 to 1964. While stationed in Augsburger, Germany, John was witness to the construction of the Berlin Wall. He served in the US Army Reserve from 1964 until retiring in 1985. While in the Army Reserves, he also taught Military War college classes for Officers at Fort Belvoir, VA. In 1966, he began his civilian career as a librarian joining DOD, DIA, and CIA government service, while living in Arlington, VA. After retiring in 1992, he returned to Baton Rouge. In 1996, he became a researcher on the Spanish period in Louisiana (1763-1805) for the Canary Islander Heritage Society. He prepared several publications on the arrival of the Canary Islanders in Louisiana. Ships from Spain sailed to Canary Islands then sailed to Louisiana. Some ships sailed to Cuba then sailed to Louisiana. Ship manifests documented travelers recruited to garrison Spain’s Forts in Louisiana. John was a member of First United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge, since 1944. He was active in the covenant Sunday school class and Men’s Coffee Bible study group. John became very active in leadership of the senior church program, (XYZ) Xtra Years of Zest. John is survived by Janelle Broussard Hickey, his wife of 67 years; son, Shawn Adrian Hickey (Gina M. Connelly) of Manassas, VA; grandson, John Michael Hickey of Manassas, VA; and brother, William Hickey (Ledaire Avant Hickey) of Clinton, LA. He is preceded in death by parents, John Hickey, Sr. (Ret Captain US Army) and Velma Mollenkopf Hickey. Visitation will be at First United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge, 930 North Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA, on Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 12pm until 1 pm, with funeral services beginning at 1pm. Burial will immediately follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park.
