Feb. 20, 2018 – West Bend, WI – As services are pending for Bob Pick Jr. we’ll bring you a little history on the Pick family via past obituaries. The family has a fascinating history in the community and great involvement with various Pick Scholarships.
The first obituary on Robert B. Pick was published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Oct. 14, 2007.
Lois Pick had a book published prior to her death in 2009 – it was about a mouse saving a tree. The obituary below was published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Pick, Lois J. (Nee Johnson) Age 91, of West Bend, passed away Thursday, October 22, 2009, at St. Luke’s Medical Center, in Milwaukee. She was born on September 10, 1918, in Newark, NJ. Lois attended Maplewood High School in South Orange, NJ, and graduated with a B.A. Degree in Journalism from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL.
While in school, Lois was a champion fencer and a member of the women’s crew team. On June 12, 1940, Lois was united in marriage to her college roommate’s brother, Robert B. Pick, in Maplewood, NJ. They made their home in West Bend and shared over two thirds of a century raising their family. They enjoyed summers at the Pick cottage on Big Cedar Lake, where Lois and Bob honeymooned.
In 1955 they purchased their own summer home on the lake, and in 1973, it was rebuilt to become their year round home. They enjoyed traveling, visiting all 50 states and several foreign countries. Lois was a tireless community service volunteer, engaged in many activities including teaching, scouting, Museum of Wisconsin Art docent, and work for her church, St. James Episcopal.
She was an accomplished author, artist, and painter. Lois celebrated her 90th birthday with the publishing of a book she wrote and illustrated called “Save My Tree”, about a mouse whose home at the base of the tree is endangered by highway construction, and in the end the tree is saved by the Historical Society who declares it a part of our history.
Lois was married to one of West Bend’s forefathers Robert Pick. She was a tireless community service volunteer. Tom Lidtke with the Museum of Wisconsin Art remembered Lois as a docent who cared about kids.
“The good news story about Lois is that she was about the kindest and gentlest lady on the planet, our society could take a lesson or two from her demeanor and values,” said Lidtke.
“She was an excellent docent for the MWA and when she gave children’s tours she always engaged the children as opposed to simply talking to them. She made them see, think and analyze in ways they would not have otherwise figured out on their own.”
In October 2008, Pick’s son published a book, written by his mother. It was a present for her 90th birthday. “Save My Tree,” about a mouse whose home at the base of the tree is endangered by highway construction.
When presented with the book during a birthday dinner Pick said “I was flabbergasted.” Pick wrote the book 30 years ago and shelved it following a family tragedy in 1972 when her 20-year-old son Andrew was killed in a plane accident 230 miles north of Saigon.
She is survived by three children, Robert B. Pick II of West Bend, Suzanne Leto of Carpentersville, IL, and Carl “Cappy” (Barbara) Pick of Honolulu, HI; four grandchildren, Anthony Pick, Amy (Christopher) O’Neal, Micheli Kay Holiskey, and Robert B. Pick III; a granddaughter-in-law, Sara Leto; seven great-grandchildren, Zachary, Anthony, and Hunter Pick, Declan, Liam, and Teah O’Neal, and Emma Leto; two sisters-in-law, Mary Pick-Steiner of Sun City West, AZ, and Bonnie Pick of Oak Park, IL; other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert B. Pick in October of 2007; a daughter, Jenny Rose Pick; a son Andrew Pick; a grandson, Timothy Leto; and three brothers, Ralph, Owen and Donald. A Mass of the Resurrection to celebrate Lois’s life will be held on Saturday, October 31, at 11:00 AM, at St. James Episcopal Church (148 S. 8th Ave.). Fr. Kevin Carroll will be the celebrant. A reception to share memories will follow. Visitation will be Friday at the Myrhum – Patten Funeral Home from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM. Private family inurnment will be in Washington County Memorial Park. Memorials to St. James Episcopal Church are appreciated.
In June 1972 the small community was thrust into the national spotlight after six member of the Kenny family were killed along with 20-year-old Andrew Pick when their “Cathay Pacific Airlines Convair 880 jetliner (flight CX700) crashed at 1:30 a.m. in the central highlands of South Vietnam, 230 miles north of Saigon.”
A portion of the article in the Warsaw Times Union is posted below.
