Mel Pickell

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

A funeral service will be held Monday, 5/8, at 2pm at the Central Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. R. Van Rathbun officiating. Interment will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

Visitation will be held Sunday at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center from 2pm to 8pm, with the family present from 2pm to 4pm.

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, Nebraska for a month before joining the family of Wally and Dora Deman of Decatur, Nebraska.

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 pass-time of collecting iron for the purpose of metal recycling. Mel went to his heavenly home early Friday morning, May 5, 2006.

He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Janet Pickell of Sioux Center along with their children: Jerry and Melinda Pickell at home; his 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 Hansen of Decatur, NE; Rose (Russell, Jr.) Cummins of Decatur, NE and Kathy (Leo) Mann of Decatur, NE; step son, Jamie Van Maanen of Sibley; 34 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. Mel is also survived by eight siblings: Bob (Velma) Vander Mark of Jackson, MI; Edna Mae Eaton of Omaha, NE; Jim (Ramona) Laubscher of Denison, IA; Thomas Laubscher of Omaha, NE; Anna Fush of California; Richard Laubscher of North Platte, NE; George (Terri) Laubscher of Mason City, IA and Laverne Laubscher of Washington State; sisters-in-law: Alma Van Maanen of Sioux Center and Elaine Stevens of Ashton.

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