William
William J. “Bill” Pickett
Bill passed away Wednesday, July 31, 2019 in Otsego.
He was born July 4, 1941 in Kalamazoo the son of William and Ethel (Shearer) Pickett. Bill proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a hard worker and for 30 years had worked at Consumers Energy where he was lovingly known as General Pickett until his retirement in 2002.
Bill was a member of the Otsego VFW Post #3030, the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion of Otsego and the VFW Honor Guard. He enjoyed fishing, hunting deer and turkey, camping, boating, spending time at Schnable Lake and antique cars. Bill was happiest when surrounded by his family and his many friends.
On July 22, 1967 in Otsego he married Alice Curtiss who survives.
Also surviving are his children, Natalie Pickett of Otsego, Kathy (Rick) Babbitt of Otsego and Beth (Chuck) Johnson of Plainwell; 7 grandchildren, Hope and Maya Pell, MacKenzie and Drake Babbitt, Hailey, Gavin and Whitney Johnson; siblings, Fran Pickett, Joan Weber and Margaret Sartin along with several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter, Cassandra Pell and siblings, Nancy Pagano, Mary Smalley and James Pickett.
Friends may visit with Bill’s family starting at 11:00 A.M., Monday, August 5, 2019 at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego, until the time of the funeral service at 12:00 P.M. with David Reed officiating.
Burial will follow at West Cooper Cemetery in Cooper Township.
Military Honors by Otsego VFW Post #3030 and the U.S. Army.
Contributions in memory of Bill may be made to
Wings of Hope Hospice
or the
Disabled Veterans of America
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com.
Offer Condolence for the family of William J. “Bill” Pickett
Condolence Messages
Kathy Plotts
August 1, 2019 at 4:16 pm
Alice and family
I am so very sorry for your loss. I have many good memories of him. He will be missed.
Reply
The McQueer and De Bruyne Family
August 1, 2019 at 4:16 pm
What a honor to have known Bill Pickett aka Poppa Smurf too us. He always welcomed everyone with his open and loving arms. His wife and family were the light if his life. His friends were God’s bonus as well his wonderful life. Poppa Smurf had a way of making everyone feel like family. He truly was a great example of a PROUD VETERAN…Thank you for teaching all of us Bill Pickett how to live with pride, hope and without judgment. Even through the loss of his Cassie he inspired so many others by mentoring and teaching us how to go on after we to have suffered the loss of a love one. We are better people for knowing him and we will miss him. Alice the sunshine of his life…Thank you for sharing him with us at the lake. Love, hugs and prayers to each and all who will miss this man. This we know he would tell us all…Life will go on…find the good in the day and HANG ON TO IT! And this our friend we shall do…We will hang on to the memories of you and your loving soul.
Reply
Beverly Holmes
August 1, 2019 at 5:19 pm
To Alice, her family, and the Schnable Lake family … I am so sad to hear about Bill. He and Alice were so kind, especially when my husband passed away at the lake. Dave enjoyed toodling around on his old golf cart, and stopped by Bill’s to gossip practically every day. He will be missed by his family, as well as at the lake. The LaFountains (Bruce & Lynda) here in Zephyrhills Florida also send their condolences.
Reply
Dina Sutton
August 1, 2019 at 8:21 pm
Kathy and Rick I am so sorry for your loss. Prayers to you and your family
Reply
Janice Thompson
August 2, 2019 at 7:50 am
… Alice and Family,
Our sincerest, most heartfelt condolences… with loving prayer.
Reply
Chris and Deb Culver
August 2, 2019 at 7:01 pm
Aunt Alice, Natalie, Kathy, Beth and families,
We were so sad to hear about Uncle Bill. You all are in our thoughts and prayers.
Reply
Chet and Shirley Babrick
August 3, 2019 at 3:36 pm
Alice and family so sad for your loss.. Bill was a great classmate!!! And also friend. We also enjoyed visits at the VFW!!! Sending our love and prayers!! Chet and Shirley
Reply
Jim & Dorothy McNees
August 4, 2019 at 1:15 pm
Alice & girls and to Bill’s siblings. Sad to hear of Bill passing. Bill was always the same when ever we would see him.. Always had time to stop and chat over old times. We have know Bill since he was growing up on the farm on Douglas Ave. May he Rest In Peace.
Reply
Dave De Young
August 5, 2019 at 9:08 am
Alice and Family, so sorry to hear of Bill passing, I will always remember the good times we had at his house when we were young boys. He was a good friend and class mate. Thoughts and prayers to your family.
Reply
Jonette Kent
August 5, 2019 at 9:54 am
Alice and Family, my deepest condolences. Bill was a good man and I always like talking to him anytime I seen him. He will be missed by many. Thoughts and Prayers. Rest in Peace. He is in God’s hands. Cherish all the memories and he will live forever in your heart. Jonette Kent
Reply
David J. Delemme
August 12, 2019 at 3:55 pm
Bill was a member of Post 84 of the Otsego American Legion. We at Legion Post 84 send our thoughts and prayers to the entire Pickett family members, and ask that GOD hold him close. Till we meet again my friend,
Dave Delemme
Allegan County Commander for the Department of the Michigan American Legion.
Reply
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He was born July 4, 1941 in Kalamazoo the son of William and Ethel (Shearer) Pickett. Bill proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a hard worker and for 30 years had worked at Consumers Energy where he was lovingly known as General Pickett until his retirement in 2002.
Bill was a member of the Otsego VFW Post #3030, the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion of Otsego and the VFW Honor Guard. He enjoyed fishing, hunting deer and turkey, camping, boating, spending time at Schnable Lake and antique cars. Bill was happiest when surrounded by his family and his many friends.
On July 22, 1967 in Otsego he married Alice Curtiss who survives.
Also surviving are his children, Natalie Pickett of Otsego, Kathy (Rick) Babbitt of Otsego and Beth (Chuck) Johnson of Plainwell; 7 grandchildren, Hope and Maya Pell, MacKenzie and Drake Babbitt, Hailey, Gavin and Whitney Johnson; siblings, Fran Pickett, Joan Weber and Margaret Sartin along with several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter, Cassandra Pell and siblings, Nancy Pagano, Mary Smalley and James Pickett.
Friends may visit with Bill’s family starting at 11:00 A.M., Monday, August 5, 2019 at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego, until the time of the funeral service at 12:00 P.M. with David Reed officiating.
Burial will follow at West Cooper Cemetery in Cooper Township.
Military Honors by Otsego VFW Post #3030 and the U.S. Army.
Contributions in memory of Bill may be made to
Wings of Hope Hospice
or the
Disabled Veterans of America
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com.
Offer Condolence for the family of William J. “Bill” Pickett
Condolence Messages
Kathy Plotts
August 1, 2019 at 4:16 pm
Alice and family
I am so very sorry for your loss. I have many good memories of him. He will be missed.
Reply
The McQueer and De Bruyne Family
August 1, 2019 at 4:16 pm
What a honor to have known Bill Pickett aka Poppa Smurf too us. He always welcomed everyone with his open and loving arms. His wife and family were the light if his life. His friends were God’s bonus as well his wonderful life. Poppa Smurf had a way of making everyone feel like family. He truly was a great example of a PROUD VETERAN…Thank you for teaching all of us Bill Pickett how to live with pride, hope and without judgment. Even through the loss of his Cassie he inspired so many others by mentoring and teaching us how to go on after we to have suffered the loss of a love one. We are better people for knowing him and we will miss him. Alice the sunshine of his life…Thank you for sharing him with us at the lake. Love, hugs and prayers to each and all who will miss this man. This we know he would tell us all…Life will go on…find the good in the day and HANG ON TO IT! And this our friend we shall do…We will hang on to the memories of you and your loving soul.
Reply
Beverly Holmes
August 1, 2019 at 5:19 pm
To Alice, her family, and the Schnable Lake family … I am so sad to hear about Bill. He and Alice were so kind, especially when my husband passed away at the lake. Dave enjoyed toodling around on his old golf cart, and stopped by Bill’s to gossip practically every day. He will be missed by his family, as well as at the lake. The LaFountains (Bruce & Lynda) here in Zephyrhills Florida also send their condolences.
Reply
Dina Sutton
August 1, 2019 at 8:21 pm
Kathy and Rick I am so sorry for your loss. Prayers to you and your family
Reply
Janice Thompson
August 2, 2019 at 7:50 am
… Alice and Family,
Our sincerest, most heartfelt condolences… with loving prayer.
Reply
Chris and Deb Culver
August 2, 2019 at 7:01 pm
Aunt Alice, Natalie, Kathy, Beth and families,
We were so sad to hear about Uncle Bill. You all are in our thoughts and prayers.
Reply
Chet and Shirley Babrick
August 3, 2019 at 3:36 pm
Alice and family so sad for your loss.. Bill was a great classmate!!! And also friend. We also enjoyed visits at the VFW!!! Sending our love and prayers!! Chet and Shirley
Reply
Jim & Dorothy McNees
August 4, 2019 at 1:15 pm
Alice & girls and to Bill’s siblings. Sad to hear of Bill passing. Bill was always the same when ever we would see him.. Always had time to stop and chat over old times. We have know Bill since he was growing up on the farm on Douglas Ave. May he Rest In Peace.
Reply
Dave De Young
August 5, 2019 at 9:08 am
Alice and Family, so sorry to hear of Bill passing, I will always remember the good times we had at his house when we were young boys. He was a good friend and class mate. Thoughts and prayers to your family.
Reply
Jonette Kent
August 5, 2019 at 9:54 am
Alice and Family, my deepest condolences. Bill was a good man and I always like talking to him anytime I seen him. He will be missed by many. Thoughts and Prayers. Rest in Peace. He is in God’s hands. Cherish all the memories and he will live forever in your heart. Jonette Kent
Reply
David J. Delemme
August 12, 2019 at 3:55 pm
Bill was a member of Post 84 of the Otsego American Legion. We at Legion Post 84 send our thoughts and prayers to the entire Pickett family members, and ask that GOD hold him close. Till we meet again my friend,
Dave Delemme
Allegan County Commander for the Department of the Michigan American Legion.
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
Search Obituaries
How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
Share This Obituary
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