TOPEKA, Kan. – John Fremont Pickett, 88, passed away on Wednesday, Jan, 11, 2023, at his home in Topeka, Kan., after an eight-year battle with Alzheimer’s. He was born Jan. 24, 1934, near Emporia, Kan., the son of William Allen and Sophia (Pantle) Pickett.

John had lived in the Burlingame, Kan., community for more than 50 years and had lived in Topeka for the last year.

John served as a signalman in the United States Army from 1957 to 1958. He worked for the US Postal Service in the Material Distribution Center, in 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.

He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church at 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.

John married Freda Barth, and together they had three children, Kurt, Kim and Keith. They later divorced. John married Karen Cain Voigt, in October 1984.

John was preceded in death by his parents, William and Sophia; two brothers, Don Pickett and Gary Pickett; and a stepson, Matthew Voigt.

John is survived by his wife, Karen, of the home; his three children, Kurt (Shelly) Pickett, Topeka, Kim (David) Pickett Hibbert, Auburn, Kan., and Keith (Lisa) Pickett, Augusta, Kan.; stepson, Wade Voigt, Lawrence, Kan.; two sisters, Virginia Sievers, Amarillo, Texas, and Linda White, Burlingame; seven grandchildren, Dustin (Katie) Pickett, Natasha (Garrett) Gunn, Mitchell (Brianna) Pickett, Lauren Pickett, Jordyn (Gary) Schwinn, Jill (Jacob) Masters and Addi (Josh) McMichael; 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, Kan. Burial will be in the Burlingame Cemetery. The family will receive friends 9 a.m. until service time Saturday.

Memorial contributions can be made to Burlingame Saddle Club or Zion Lutheran Church, sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, KS 66451. Condolences can be left at feltnerfuneralhome.com.