Virgil Pickar Sr.

virgil pickar sr.
Virgil Michael Pickar, Sr., age 86 of New Hampton, passed away on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at Linn Haven Nursing and Rehab in New Hampton, Ia. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 3, 2014 at Holy Family Parish, New Hampton with Rev. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the mass. Interment will follow services in St. Mary’s Cemetery, New Hampton with Chad Tierney, Michael Pickar, Jason Reicks, Allan Pickar, Luke Pickar and Christopher Reicks servings as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Kristen Reicks, Theresa Douglas, Sarah Reicks, Nicole Vachon, Molly Reicks, Rebecca Pickar, Casey Tierney, Matthew Pickar, Daniel Pickar, Brian Pickar, Steven Pickar, Jonathan Pickar, Eric Pickar, Mark Reicks, Thomas Reicks and Cale Reicks. Friends may greet the family 3:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 2, 2014 at the Hugeback – Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton where there will be a 4:00 p.m. rosary and a 7:00 p.m. scripture service. Visitation continues one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Virgil “Mike” Pickar, Sr, was born February 22, 1928, in Deerfield Township, rural Chickasaw County, Iowa the son of Raymond and Bertha (Boehmer) Pickar. He was baptized and confirmed at Immaculate Conception Church in North Washington, Iowa. He attended Rural Deerfield Country School until 8th grade. Whereupon he worked for farmers in the area and drove semi. On July 21, 1949, Mike was united in marriage to Edna Marie Walker at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Ionia, Iowa. The couple made their home in rural New Hampton, where they raised six children, Sandra, Virgil, Sharon, Gerald, Paul, and Paula. Mike and Edna farmed, raised hogs, chickens, and cattle. He kept busy and enjoyed custom farming in the area. He instilled a great worth ethic to all his family. Mike enjoyed fishing, playing cards, driving around the countryside checking crops, reading the newspaper and magazines front to back and sometimes more than once. He also had great pride driving his John Deere Model A tractor. He was a diehard Cubs fan and an avid history, geography, and genealogy buff. He especially enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends. Mike was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Mike is survived by his wife of 65 years, Edna; his children; Sandy (Ron) Tierney of Elma, Virgil (Pam) Pickar of New Hampton, Sharon (Bob Cox) Reicks of Alta Vista, Gerald (Melissa) Pickar of Oologah, OK, Paul ( Janet) Pickar of Riceville, Paula (Tim) Reicks of Little Turkey; grandchildren Chad (Leslie) Tierney, Theresa (Josh) Douglas, Casey (Kim) Tierney, Michael (Sarah) Pickar, Kristen (Carl) Reicks, Matthew (Barb) Pickar, Daniel ( Jen) Pickar, Brian (Valerie) Pickar, Steven (Jaralyn) Pickar, Jonathan Pickar, Sarah Reicks, Jason (Gina) Reicks, Nicole (Dennis) Vachon, Allan Pickar, Nathan Thompson, Eric Pickar, Luke Pickar ( fianc Shannon ), Rebecca Pickar, Chris Reicks, Molly Reicks, Mark (fianc Bridget) Reicks, Tom Reicks and Cale Reicks ; 36 great grandchildren; one brother, Stanley Pickar of California; and two sisters-in-law, Irene Lambert of Garner, IA and Rosalie Pickar of New Hampton, Ia. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Bernard Pickar, James Pickar; one sister, Bernice Houser; son-in-law , Michael Reicks; daughter –in-law, Donna Pickar; great-granddaughter Jessica Pickar; sisters-in-law, Joan Pickar, Evelyn Peterson, Joann Pickar; brothers-in-law, Russell Peterson, John Lambert and Art Houser.

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  1. Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Services created a video in memory of Virgil “Mike” Pickar Sr.

  2. I was sorry to hear of Mike’s passing from my brother Kevin today. It brings back memories of going to the farm with dad when you lived there. My prayers are with the family. Cheryl Madsen (Crooks)

  3. So sorry for this sad time for all of you. I have many great memories of time spent in Iowa and seeing Mike, Edna and the Kids. The video is awesome! Hope everyone is doing OK and will keep you in our prayers!!! Thinking of the reunion in Heaven with Virgil, Kenny, Junior, Don puts a smile on my face! Joni VandenBrook (Muetz)

  4. Our sympathies to the Pickar families may the Lord be with you during this time of grief. May God give you peace.

  5. Our sympathies to the Pickar families. Virgil had such a wonderful smile and mild manner. I always enjoyed our visits. Pat and Carol Brickley

  6. Virgil would have been my dads 1st cousin even though I have never met him I leave my sincere sympathy for the family! Since he is one of the last of that generation! However I do remember visiting with his dad Ray and mother Bertha when I was little! Patricia Wisher

  7. Our deepest sympathy to Mike’s family, you are all in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. Mike will be missed by many. God Bless you all! Don & Pat Johnson

  8. Our sympathy to all the Pickar family. We will remember his warm smile and hardy laugh. May he rest in peace. Sincerely, Louise and Donn Harris

  9. Mike & Edna & family are in our thoughts and prays. We have a lot of special memories of Mike, Edna and their family through the years. We spent time fishing up north, playing cards and just getting together and having fun. Mike and Edna very good friend of mom and dads they share many happy memories. I know that a lot of people were there to welcome him. Dad & Mom would have a fishing pool ready and a place at the table for him to join in playing cards. I know when I stopped by the house in New Hampton to see Mike & Edna they always hard time for a card game or two. Mike, you will be missed but we will always remember the good times. Al & Patti Good

  10. Beloved Mike Pickar. . . . .a man with giant spirit and heart for others. He lived what he believed. . . . and he believed in family. He will be missed by all. He will be missed especially by his long and faithful wife, Edna. My good lady, my thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. I suggest that all of use our imagination at this time. Who is Mike meeting in heaven. What kind of laughter are they enjoying. I will not forget this wonderful person. May he rest in peace!

  11. Our deepest sympathy to Virgil’s family. May you each cherish his memory and let it live on for years and generations to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Mary Burns and Dale Christensen

  12. You are all in our thoughts and prayers at this time. Our deepest sympathy goes out to all the families.

  13. Sorry to hear of your Husband, father and granddad’s passing. He was a lot of fun when Free & Easy played in the band and Virgil and his friends came to dance. Dave & Carol Zobeck

  14. Our deepest sympathy to the Pickar family. We will never forget Virgil. What a bright and good man with an incredible sense of humor!! His contagious smile and that twinkle in his eye were the best!!! I can’t even begin to count how many times Gary would break into laugher as he would recall ‘one-liners’ that Virgil would come up with. Fun memories of Virgil and his beautiful family will be his legacy. Love to you all. Nancy and Gary Cuvelier

  15. Our sympathy to the Pickar family. We have good memories of Mike when he shelled corn for us. He was a great ‘talker’, and it was fun to hear his stories. We know he will be greatly missed but he has left quite a legacy behind. Now he can rest in peace. Michael and Alice Bartz

  16. Our sympathy and prayers to the entire Pickar family. Virgil will be missed by many but cherish the many good time together. He has now reached his Heavenly Kingdom and may he rest in peace.

  17. So sorry to hear of Virgil’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the entire extended family at this difficult time.

  18. Are thoughts and prayers are with you all. What a great man he was at having a conversations with and the stories he told. Jerry and Joanne Heying

  19. Mike will be missed by a lot of people. We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to his entire family. I’m glad to have a lot of memories of time spent up north fishing with Mike and my Dad. I will never forget the time Mike took Amber and I out looking for Loons on West Crooked Lake.Amber was probably about 3 or 4 years old. Amber thought that was so much trying to guess where they would come up. I’m sure Dad was happy to see him this morning, now they can play cards again up in heaven.


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