Leonard Duane Pickhartz passed away February 15, at his winter home in Yuma, Arizona at the age of 80. He was born in St. Paul Minnesota on December 6, 1932. He was preceded in death by his parents Leonard J. Pickhartz and Dorothy L. Foss, sister Marlene Baribeau and also his two sons Leonard G. Pickhartz and george H. Pickhartz.

Leonard enlisted in the US Army as a young man and rose to the rank of Command Sergeant Major. He was a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars, spending a total of three combat tours there. He retired after a long and gratifying career in 1979. His second career was that of a big rig truck driver which he loved almost as much as he did the Army.

He is survived by his loving wife Marcy, daughter Linda Pickhartz and husband David Espinosa, granddaughter Lauren and grandson David all of Escalon, CA, sister Margaret Simpson of Las Vegas, NV, brother-in-law Gerald Kind and wife Carol of CO, and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Leonard and Marcy have lived in Manteca since 1976. Prior to that they spent years traveling from one army base to another and after they retired they bought a motor home and spent the next thirty years seeing all the places in between. In all of their travels they made lots of friends and lived life like it should be lived, having a good time.

A memorial/celebration of life ceremony will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday April 27, 2013 at Park View Cemetery and Funeral Home, 3661 E. French Camp Road, Manteca, CA 95336

In lieu of flowers the family suggests remembrances or donations be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Wednesday, April 24, 2013