Pickett, William Sanford. “Bill” passed away peacefully on December 4, 2024 at the age of 89.
He had been living independently until the fall of 2024 when his health slipped precipitously, and he needed support from a nursing home. Bill is preceded in death by his first spouse Sharron Pickett, spouse Kim (Berndt) Pickett, brother Charles Pickett, and parents Guy Pickett and Ruth Pickett, nee Ransom. He is survived by sons James (Kevin) and Kevin (Jennifer), daughter-in-law Susan Pickett, and by Kim’s children Shannon (Tom) and Jason. Loving grandchildren include Roman and Jozette as well as great-grandchildren Carmelo, Mavino, Kaliko and Masi.
Always a “farm kid” at heart, Bill was born in Farmville, Virginia, and his family moved to the Madison, Wisconsin area where he grew up on the family farm there, graduating from Madison East High School. He served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956, including time spent deployed in Germany, and returned to start a career in accounting in the construction industry, in which he rose to the position of firm controller at Downey, where he worked for many years. He married Sharron (from Stoughton, Wisconsin) and raised two children (Jim and Kevin) in the Milwaukee area, with a short stint in Albuquerque, New Mexico which he and the kids loved. In fact, he and various family members went back to Albuquerque on several occasions over the years to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the food, especially the sopapillas. He divorced and subsequently re-married with Kim, and cherished her children, and soon thereafter, there were loving grand and great-grandchildren in the mix. Friends and family always enjoyed his no-BS attitude and his sarcastic wit. Besides sopapillas, he loved Milwaukee- style bar pizza or a hotdog and hamburger at any time. And of course, he was a long time Packers fan!
Visitation will be at Krause Funeral Home, 12401 West National Avenue, New Berlin, Wisconsin on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM followed by a service on site for family and friends. Burial with family will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum, 7301 West Nash Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the VA Milwaukee Health Care System would be appreciated, click here for more info: https://www.va.gov/milwaukee-health-care/work-with-us/volunteer-or-donate/. Bill received exceptional care from the VA over his many years of life, and some significant health challenges, and the whole family shared in his gratitude for such an important lifeline.
