TOPEKA — John Fremont Pickett died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, at his home in Topeka, after an eight-year battle with Alzheimer’s. He was 88.
He was born Jan. 24, 1934, near Emporia, the son of William Allen and Sophia (Pantle) Pickett.
John had lived in the Burlingame community for over 50 years, and had lived in Topeka for the last year.
He served as a signalman in the United States Army from 1957 to 1958.
John married Freda Barth, and they had three children, Kurt, Kim and Keith. They later divorced. In October 1984, John married Karen Cain Voigt.
He worked for the U.S. Postal Service in the Material Distribution Center, Topeka, as a supervisor and manager, and then as an inventory specialist until his retirement in 1992. Throughout this time, he also farmed and ranched.
John was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, Vassar, was involved in establishing the Burlingame Saddle Club, and loved helping at the rodeo each year. During retirement, he also volunteered at the Burlingame Schuyler Museum.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Sophia; his two brothers, Don Pickett and Gary Pickett; and a stepson, Matthew Voigt.
John is survived by his wife, Karen, of the home; three children, Kurt Pickett (Shelly), Topeka, Kim Hibbert (David), Auburn, and Keith Pickett (Lisa), Augusta; a stepson, Wade Voigt, Lawrence; two sisters, Virginia Sievers, Amarillo, Texas, and Linda White, Burlingame; seven grandchildren, Dustin Pickett (Katie), Natasha Gunn (Garrett), Mitchell Pickett (Brianna), Lauren Pickett, Jordyn Schwinn (Gary), Jill Masters (Jacob) and Addi McMichael (Josh); and five great-grandchildren, Remington Masters, Maverick McMichael, Harrison Pickett, Matilda Pickett and Kennedy Schwinn.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at Zion Lutheran Church, Vassar. Burial will be in the Burlingame Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until service time.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Burlingame Saddle Club or Zion Lutheran Church, and sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, KS 66451.
Condolences for the family may be left at FeltnerFuneralHome.com.
