Charles "Chuck" L. Picard

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 6, 2020, at the First Congregational Church in Geneva with Pastor Stuart Davis officiating.  The US Navy will provide an abbreviated military service following the conclusion of the service at church.  Honorary pallbearers are:  Jeremiah Picard, Joslyn Handley, Chad Picard, Nathan Picard, Kandy Mae Hanthorn, and Jayson Sullivan.  Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation. 

Charles Lorenzo Picard III was born August 23, 1932, in Liberty, Nebraska to Charles L. and Clara “Louise” (Koehler) Picard and passed away Thursday, October 22, 2020 at the Heritage Crossings Nursing Home in Geneva at the age of 88.

As a young man, Chuck, as he was affectionately known, attended Geneva Public Schools, graduating with the class of 1950.  He furthered his education by attending Hastings College and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  He enlisted in the US Navy, serving in the Korean War and later resumed his service to his country by serving in the Vietnam Conflict as well.  After his first discharge, Chuck was united in marriage to Barbra “Jean” Harrington on October 4, 1952 in Lincoln, Nebraska.  To this union three sons were born, Christopher, Mikel and Daniel.  Early on, Charles and his wife were no stranger to the motel and hotel business.  They managed motels at the Goldenrod Motel in Geneva, later in Sanger, TX, Holbrook, AZ, and Joplin, MO for many years.  Chuck was an active businessman and entrepreneur, operating the Eat-N-Tote, The Lamplighter Café, and many other enterprises in Geneva.  Later, Chuck, Jean and his brothers also operated their rental property business in Geneva for some time, including purchasing the small historic 1912 building and renovating it into the Geneva Hotel in 2010.

Chuck was a member of the Geneva Masonic Lodge #79 and enjoyed taking his family fishing, hunting and cooking.  Chuck was a collector of kitchen ware and gadgets and loved painting in his spare time.  He also coached baseball and was a member and supported the Geneva Gun Club. 

Survivors include his sons and daughters-in-law, Christopher and Lora Picard, FL, Mikel and Janice Picard, York, and Daniel and Christine Picard, Crete, six grandchildren, Chad Picard, Nathan Picard, Jeremiah Picard, Kandy Mae Hanthorn, Joslyn Handly, Jayson Sullivan, nine great-grandchildren, brothers, Ben (Susanna) Picard, Sunnyvale, CA, and Bill Picard, Geneva, several nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. 

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Jean in 1999, a brother, John in 2013, several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.   

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