May 5, 2006

Funeral Services were held on May 8, 2006 for Melvin Pickell at the Central Reformed Church of Sioux Center, Iowa.  The service was officiated by Rev. R. Van Rathbun.

Interment was in the Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center, Iowa.

Melvin Pickell, age 82, of Sioux Center, Iowa, died unexpectedly Friday, May 5, 2006 at his residence.

Melvin (Miles) Edward Pickell, was born in Michigan to Miles and Caroline (Laubscher) Pickell.  At age five, Mel moved with his family to Iowa.  Later he lived at Boys Town at Omaha, NE, for a month before joining the family of Wally and Dora Deman of Decatur, NE.

Mel married Jean Mobley and to this union ten children were born.  They were later divorced.  On October 22, 1988, Mel married Janet Van Maanen in Sioux Center, Iowa; they were blessed with two children.

While living in Nebraska, Mel farmed and did welding for a living.  He was extremely handy in many ways.  He moved to Whiting, Iowa in 1987 where he drove truck Until retiring in 1989.  At that time he and Janet settled near Sioux Center, Iowa.  Mel kept busy with his pastime of collecting iron for the purpose of metal recycling.

Mel was preceded in death by his son.  Ronnie Pickell; his parents and three brothers.

He is survived by his wife of 17 years; and children: Jerry and Melinda Pickell; four sons: Terry (Diana) Pickell of Tekamah, NE; Bill (Danna) Pickell of Tekamah, NE; Dick (Melanie) Pickell of Lyons, NE; Bob (Brenda) Pickell of Decatur, NE; five daughters; Linda (Alan) Hennig of Tekamah, NE; Carol (David) Freese of Lyons, NE; Mary Hanson of Decatur, NE; Rose (Russell, Jr.) Cummins of Decatur, NE; Kathy (Leo) Mann of Decatur, NE: Stepson, Jamie Van Maanen of Sibley; 34 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Mel is also survived by eight siblings; Bob (Velma) Vander Mark of Jackson, Michigan; Edna Mae Eaton of Omaha, NE; Jim (Ramona) Laubscher of Denison, IA; Thomas Laubscher of Omaha, NE; Anna Fush of CA; Richard Laubscher of North Platt, NE; George (Terri) Laubscher of Mason City, IA; Laverne Laubscher of Washinton State; sister-in-law; Alma Van Maanen of Sioux Center, IA, and Elaine Stevens of Ashton, IA.

Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.  Iowa was in charge of the services.