James Franklin Pickle
April 22, 1934 - August 3, 2017

James Franklin Pickle, 83, of Mt. Pleasant, formerly of New London, died Thursday, August 3, 2017 at his home. He was born April 22, 1934 in Lowell, to William Lee and Laura Veronica Thornburg Pickle. He married Veronda J.Carter in April 1960; they divorced. He then married Anna Lee Stogdill Lunsford on May 13, 2000 at Oakland Mills.
He attended Bethany School and Mt. Pleasant High School and was of the Christian faith. He was a Korean War Navy veteran and served on the USS Mansfield in the Pacific Ocean and Australia. Mr. Pickle farmed in his early years and for over 30 years owned and operated his own auto mechanic garage in New London. He worked at the IAAP and Metromail, and later at his son Kevin's business Advanced Radiator. He enjoyed gardening, snowmobiling, camping, hunting and fishing; was a diehard fan of the Packers and Hawkeyes; a founding member of Ridge Blaster Snowmobile Club, and was "snowmobiler of the year" for the state of Iowa. He taught snowmobile safety for over thirty years in the state of Iowa and was honored by Governor Branstad for his volunteerism. He was a member of the Henry County Honor Guard, and a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign War Post #7641 and was also commander; and for many years, raised the flag at the Friday night home football games. He was president of the New London Little League and New London Country Club. He was instrumental in starting the softball team, the Lowell Rattlers and loved playing softball.
Mr. Pickle is survived by his wife of Mt. Pleasant; one son, Kevin (Erica) Pickle of New London; two daughters, Tracy (Roger) Cooper of Danville and Brenda (Randy) Lanferman of Mt. Pleasant; four grandchildren; three step-sons; Terry Lunsford of Wayland; Marty (Renee) Lunsford of Ottawa, Kansas; and Billy (Becky) Lunsford of Mt. Pleasant; six sisters, Florence Martin of New London, Jean Tebbs of Mt. Pleasant, Marjorie "Johnnie" Foster, Karen (Wilbur) Putnam, and Mary (Larry) Gohr, all of Burlington and Gwen Lear of Tallahassee, Florida; and nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers; Jack and Joe; and three sisters; Hazel and Dorothy Blint and Velma Weigert.
The service for Mr. James Pickle will be at 10:30 AM, Monday, August 7 at Elliott Chapel, New London with Reverend Troy Weigert officiating. Burial will be at Burge Cemetery, rural New London, with military rites by the Henry County Honor Guard. Visitation will begin at noon Sunday with the family greeting friends from 2:00-5:00. Memorials have been established for New London Veteran Park and for a flagpole at the new football field in New London.

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