Gene Pickering

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Gene Pickering, 82, of Valparaiso, Ind., passed away Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011, at the Horton VNA Hospice Center in Valparaiso, Ind.

Gene was an area resident for 59 years and was a U.S. Air Force Veteran. He retired from U.S. Steel as a crane operator and was a member and deacon of the First Baptist Church of South Haven, Ind.

Gene was survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Jeanette; four sons, Jerry (Tracy) Pickering of Holden, Mo., Randy (Terry) Pickering, Chuck (Sandy) Pickering and Donnie (Sebrena) Pickering, all of Valparaiso, Ind.; two daughters, Paula Gualandi of Hobart, Ind., and Sandy (John) Hennrich of Valparaiso, Ind.; 17 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two brothers, Bob (Mary) Pickering of Perrysville, Mo., and Leonard Pickering of Shelbyville, Tenn.; a sister, Norma Pickering of Carrier Mills; and nieces and nephews.

His parents, Knox and Thelma Pickering; and brother, Alvin Pickering, preceded him in death.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011, at Rees Funeral Home, 600 W. Old Ridge Road, Hobart, Ind. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, at the First Baptist Church of South Haven, 780 N. McCool Road, (South Haven) Valparaiso, Ind., with Pastor Phil Needler officiating. Mr. Pickering will be taken to church at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011. He will be taken to Absher-Nicholson Funeral Home, 106 E. Walnut St., Carrier Mills, for visitation from 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 1, 2011, and graveside services immediately following at Salem Cemetery. For information please call Rees Funeral Home, (219) 942-2109 or online at the Internet site www.ReesFuneralHomes.com.