Burton “Burt” Leroy Picht, 91, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Thursday, November 25, 2021 at The Pines Adult Care Center in Kirksville, Missouri.

Born September 24, 1930 in Swea City, Iowa, Burt was the son of the late Howard Blaine and Myrtle Orabelle (Kelly) Picht. On June 25, 1966 in Des Moines, IA, Burt was united in marriage to Jane Tsuneko “Janie” Tsukimura.

Burt was preceded in death by four brothers, Gerald Picht, Raymond Picht, Cecil Picht, and Wayne Picht, and two sisters, Geneva (Picht) Thaves White and Florence (Picht) Butterfield.

Burt is survived by his wife Janie of Kirksville, MO, and one daughter, Nancy Lea Picht, of Bellingham, WA.
Burt graduated as the valedictorian of the class of 1947 from Shell Rock (Iowa) High School. He served in the US Army from February 1952 to February 1954 at Fort Bliss, Texas. He worked on his family’s farm in Shell Rock, IA, and at Waterloo Industries in Waterloo, IA. He moved to Des Moines, IA, to attend the College of Automation, where he met his future wife Janie Tsukimura. Shortly after they were married, Burt was transferred to Kirksville, MO, where he and his wife lived for over 55 years. He was a traveling salesman for Midstate Electronics, before buying a store which would become Crafts and Things. He ran Crafts and Things in downtown Kirksville for over 20 years before retiring in January 1996.

Burt enjoyed gardening, model cars and trains, and playing cards with his family. He loved animals, especially cats, and watching the St. Louis Cardinals and Iowa Hawkeyes. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, December 23, 2021 at the First Presbyterian Church in Kirksville, with Reverend Dale Stone officiating. Family will receive friends for one hour prior to service time. Interment with military honors will follow at the Missouri State Veteran's Cemetery in Jacksonville, Missouri.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Burton may be made to the First Presbyterian Church or to the Adair County Humane Society and may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.