Donald Allan Picken

Donald Allan Picken: Don passed away Monday evening at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Knoxville at the age of 86 years, 7 months and 9 days. He is survived by his wife, Frances Picken of Oskaloosa; a son and his wife, Rex and Becky Picken of Oskaloosa; a daughter and her husband, Karen and Howard Myers of Webster City, IA; a sister, Joyce Andrews of Clearwater, FL; granddaughters: Renee (Ron) Godfredsen of Webster City; Sheri (Ed) Curtin of Tucson, AZ; grandsons: Joel Picken and Kyle Picken of Lees Summit, MO; great grandchildren: Ryan, Sarah, Sean & Seth Godfredsen, and Eddie & Austin Curtin; step children: Julie De Reus of Ames; Sue Wells of Milwaukee, WI; step grandchildren: Eric (Maechelle) Myers; Todd Myers; Jodi Amundson; Jon & Shawn De Reus; Boone, Hannah & Olivia Myers; and Matt & Marissa Myers. Donald Allan Picken, son of Thad and Lola Gilyeart Picken, was born April 25, 1920, in Cedar, Iowa. He was a 1938 graduate of Cedar High School. For two years, he continued his education at A.I.B. in Des Moines; after which he was employed by Rath Packing in Waterloo, a job which took him to New York City, NY. While in New York, he met Joanna D. Sinclair, they married April 5, 1941. He was inducted into the U.S. Army May 10, 1944, at Camp Upton, NY. He served as a radio operator in Central Europe and Rhineland attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was discharged March 17, 1946, in New Jersey. Donald and Joanna then returned to the Cedar area, where he farmed and did carpentry work with his brother-in-law, Harold Andrews. In 1974, he and his son, Rex started Picken & Picken Construction. In addition to his carpentry, Donald spent many years caring for Joanna, who suffered from Multiple Sclerosis. Don retired in May 1986, and he and Joanna moved to Oskaloosa. Shortly after their move to Oskaloosa, Joanna passed away September 26, 1986. Don was blessed to meet Frances Wells; they married September 9, 1988. They resided in Oskaloosa and spent many winters in Clearwater, FL. Don was a member of the Cedar Methodist Church and the Central United Methodist Church in Oskaloosa. Don enjoyed farming, golfing and most of all, his family. Besides his parents and his wife, Joanna, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law, DeVerne Osterfoss; a granddaughter, Kelly Jo Osterfoss and a brother-in-law, Harold Andrews. PDF Printable Version

Donald Allan Picken

April 25, 1920 - December 4, 2006