Obit: Picus, William (1872 - 1960)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Picus, Aaronson, Overby, Springer, Reynard, Wright, Pedersen, Johnson

----Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 12/15/1960

Picus, William (15 FEB 1872 - 9 DEC 1960)

William Picus, a highly respected merchant in the City of Owen (Clark Co., Wis.) for 17 years prior to his retirement six years ago, passed away early Friday morning.  He succumbed to an attack of pneumonia along with complications of old age at Victory Memorial Hospital at Stanley, where he had been admitted late Thursday evening.

Fellow members of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Withee held a memorial service Saturday night at the Hoeper and Kraut Funeral Home.  Sunday the body was taken to Milwaukee where services were held at 1:00 o’clock at the Bensman Funeral Home with Rabbi Schulson of Milwaukee officiating.  Burial was made at Second Home Cemetery where his son, Samuel, who lost his life in World War II, while fighting near New Guinea, is buried.

Serving as pallbearers were Carl Pedersen, Sidney Picus, Leon Picus, William Rellis, Morris Fishkin and Charles Levenson.

Bill Picus lived a clean wholesome life and up until a couple of months ago, despite his advanced age of 88 years, enjoyed a daily walk of two miles.

He was born Feb. 15, 1872 in Russia and came to the United States when 17 years of age.  In 1901 he and his widow, the former Bella Aaronson, were married in a ceremony performed in Milwaukee.  Being engaged in the dry goods business he successfully operated stores at Princeton and Black River Falls, Wis., and in Minneapolis, Minn., prior to coming here in 1937, opening a store in the building which now houses the Gable store.

His passing is mourned by a host of friends in this trading area whose respect he gained throughout the 17 years he was in business.  Immediate survivors include his wife, five daughters, Mrs. Andrew (Annette) Overby, , Mrs. Bernard (Sarah) Springer, Paulina Reynard, and Jean Wright, all of New York state, and Mrs. Carl (Ruth) Pedersen, Withee, and one granddaughter, Naomi Johnson, Owen.