Obituary: Arkie Lorraine Pickel
Arkie Lorraine Pickel, 82, of Reedsburg, passed away Saturday, October 31, 2020, at the Senior Life Center in Reedsburg. Arkie was born March 20, 1938 in Richland County to the late Allen Ray Milton Denman and Wanda Mae West. She was married to Wayne Marion Pickel on June 18, 1955.
She was a one of a kind human being who lived for her family and loved them more than words could suffice. She remembered everyone and everyone remembered her. She impacted so many people’s lives in such a positive way and touched their hearts. She could always be found helping neighbors or anyone who needed it, working as a dietician aid at the hospital, taking in extra people as family on the holidays, being the Queen of hospitality at Hardee’s and making her famous biscuits for them, sitting on the porch in the sun, being the “old witch” at Halloween handing out apples, oranges and peanuts to the trick-or-treaters, a Home Interiors consultant, making food or baking and dancing in the kitchen to her first love, Elvis Presley. She learned to play the organ and piano by ear. Her animated personality and vigor for life will leave a lasting hole in those who knew her. There is truly not another soul on this planet that could fill her shoes.
Survivors include her children; Jeannie (Thomas) Fargen of Plain, Dennis (Sheila) Pickel of Reedsburg, Ronald (Linda) Pickel of Richland Center, Joanne Shafer of Reedsburg, Larry (Hope) Pickel of Reedsburg, her 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; her sisters June (Gordon) Jensen of Baraboo and Sharon (Charles) Aiello of Cottage Grove, her sisters-in-law Patricia Denman of Sun Prairie, Melva Pickel of Lake Delton, and many other nieces, nephews relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by both of her parents, her husband Wayne Pickel; brothers Elmer and Martin; son-in-law Jerry Shafer; and brother-in-law Melvin Pickel.
Funeral Services for Arkie took place Monday, November 2, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. at the Farber Funeral Home in Reedsburg with visitation starting at 3:00 pm. until the time of the service. Chaplain Daniel Farber officiated. Burial will take place at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery at a later date. A memorial fund has been established in her name.
Farber Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
