Obituary of Jo Ann Pickard

Jo Ann Pickard, 80, of Vona, Colorado passed early on Friday morning, March 9, 2011 at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Jo Ann was born on July 3, 1931 south of Vona, Colorado to Ray and Harriet Ford. Jo Ann was the sixth child of eleven children – she was the first daughter following five boys. During Jo Ann’s Senior Year, she began dating the love of her life, Kenneth Pickard. Jo Ann graduated high school in 1949 from Vona High School. A couple months later, Jo Ann and Kenneth were united in marriage on August 6, 1949 at St. Charles Catholic Church in Stratton, CO. They were later blessed with two daughters, Cheryl Ann and Rita Gail. Kenneth and Jo Ann began their life together eventually settling at their family home where they have lived and built their family farming operation over the last fifty years. In 1963, Jo Ann became the Postal Clerk for the Vona Post Office. In 1985 she was promoted to Post Master. Jo Ann retired in 1992 after almost 30 years of dedicated service to the U.S. Postal Service. Jo Ann has always been an active member of the community. In past years she was a member of the St. Charles Alter and Rosary Society, The Vona Worthwhile Extension Club and has always been involved in community activities wherever needed. Even though work and community played an important role in Jo Ann’s life, there was no role that was more important to her than wife, mother, and grandmother. No one was more important to her than her family; her husband Kenneth, her daughters Cheryl and Rita and her five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. For example, on Jo Ann and Kenneth’s 50th anniversary they took their whole family to Mexico to celebrate together. They also shared many vacations and cruises with their daughters, Cheryl and Rita. No matter what the occasion, birthday, anniversary, holiday or just a Sunday afternoon, you would always find Jo Ann with her family. Jo Ann was also a devout member of the St. Charles Catholic Church. She has always enjoyed playing the piano, gardening, traveling, boating and playing cards with her brothers and sisters. This coming August, Kenneth and Jo Ann would have celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. Jo Ann will always be remembered for her laugh that would light up the room, for her kind heart and listening ear and mostly for the way she has always been there for us. Jo Ann was truly a beautiful woman both inside and out. Jo Ann was preceded in death by her father Ray Ford, mother Harriet Ford, father-in-law Jim Pickard, mother-in-law Marie Pickard; 4 brothers, Leon, Raymond, Jack and Pat; and 2 sisters, infant Colleen Ford and Mary Lou Luebbers; 3 brother-in-laws, Bill Crum, Rock Luebbers, and Ralph Hubbell; 4 sister-in-laws, Leona Edmunds, Hazel Ford, Colleen Ford, and Rose Pickard; 2 son-in-laws Pat Rueb and Jack Burian and infant great-granddaughter, Abigail Jo Hase. Jo Ann is survived by her husband Kenneth Pickard, her two daughters: Cheryl Burian of Seibert, CO; Rita Rueb of Stratton, CO; and grandchildren: Audrey (Andy) Hase of Kirk, CO; Bryant (Brenda) Rueb of Vona, CO; Christina (Chris) Castillo of Burlington, CO; Elise Burian of Denver, CO; and Seth Burian of Hays, KS. Great-Grandchildren: Austin, Tyler and Carley Hase; Alyssa and Brianna Rueb; and Jaydon, Tallon, and Christian Castillo. Jo Ann is also survived by her brother and sisters: Merl Ford of Vona, CO; Kay Crum of Monument, CO; Carol Taylor of Colorado Springs, CO; Linda (George) Card of Strasburg, CO; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Harold (Nola) Pickard of Burlington, CO; Louis (Kay) Pickard of Stratton, CO; Fern (Wayne) McCaffrey of Seibert, CO; Velma Hubbell of Goodland, KS and numerous nieces and nephews.