Obituary for Dale Lester Picardat
Dale Lester Picardat, age 91 of Manistee died Monday, September 12, 2022 at his home.
He was born on August 12, 1931 in Huntington Park, CA the son of the late Lester & Harriet (Larsen) Picardat. He graduated from Manistee High School in 1949. He was a 1954 graduate of the US Naval
Academy with a Bachelor of Science Engineering degree. He continued his education by earning an MBA, training with General Dynamics Astronautics Division and the US Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. These are just a few of his long list. He loved his military career and retired as a Lt Col. of the United Stated Air Force in1976. He served at various Air Force and NASA installations-as well as the Pentagon. After retiring he became the Director of Engineering for Century Boat of Manistee.
He worked for the City of Manistee. At the City he was the Community Development Director,
responsible for the Riverwalk, catwalk to the lighthouse, the stabilization of the north bank of the
river at the Veteran’s Park. He helped replanted the hackberry trees on the memorial drive and
repurposed some as canes for retiring city personnel. He also wrote grants for the City.
He enjoyed golf, watching college football and Detroit Tigers. He was a Master Bridge player
and lead duplicate bridge at the Senior Center for many years. He was in charge of placing the
US Flags by all veterans tombstones at Oak Grove Cemetery. Collecting was his passion:
Coins, kerosene lamps, Manistee Postcards. He was famous for his pepper seasoning and he
kept this recipe secret for over 25 years.
Manistee was the best place to be for Dale and he loved his life here. This is where he chose to
give back. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post#10 and Grand Lodge Free &
Accepted Masons of MI #228, part of the Manistee Airport Authority, served on the Board of
Directors for the Restoration of the Ramsdell Theater, was on the Hospital Board, helped
restore the Veterans Wall by the Library. He was a member of both Manistee National and
Manistee Country Club where he played golf whenever he could. He was chosen to address
the Graduating class of 1988, at his son’s John graduation. This was indeed a privilege and ‘by
far the greatest experience of my life’. Mostly it was his love of family that we will miss the most.
Survivors include his wife; Suzanne, six children; Dale Picardat of Ft. Meyers, FL, Patti (Tim) Forsythe of Sun Lakes, AZ, James (Jodi) Picardat of Driftwood, TX, Kenneth (Desiree) Picardat of Manistee, MI, Phillip (Jessica) Picardat of Grand Rapids, MI & John (Janet) Picardat of Callao, VA, his sister; Renee Zwiefka of Manistee and brother-in-law; James Hansen of Frisco, TX.
Also surviving are 13 grandchildren; Bridget (Shane) Paris of Eaton, CO, Stephanie (Jiten) Patel of Tewksbury, MA, Carlene Holmes of Manistee, MI, Scott (Morgan) Forsythe of Scottsdale, AZ, Amy Forsythe of Sun Lakes, AZ, Heather Forsythe of Mesa, AZ, Joseph Picardat of Austin,TX, Johnathan Picardat of Driftwood, TX, Catharine Picardat of Lawrenceville, GA, Kelvyn Kolk & Leighton Kolk both of Grand Rapids, MI, & Jessica & Jacob Picardat of Virginia, seven great grand-children; Matthew & Dylan Paris of Eaton, CO, Dalton Stevens of VA, Zara Patel of Tewksbury, MA & Charlotte, Benjamin, & Ryker Forsythe of Scottsdale, AZ, and special nieces and nephews; Don Zwiefka, Jane Zwiefka, Sue Turner, Ann Jaska-Rogers, Faye Zwiefka, and Chris & Chad Hansen.
He was also preceded in death by his daughter; Jere Lynn Holmes, his brother; Doug Picardat, brother-in-law; Don Zwiefka, sister-in-law; Carolyn Hansen, niece; Judy Sannes-Zwiefka, and nephew Mark Hansen.
Masonic & Military Graveside Services will be held Saturday, September 17, 2022 at Oak Grove Cemetery in Manistee at 11:00 AM.
Memorials in Dale’s name may be directed to the DAV Chapter #43 Transportation Fund.
The family would like to extended a special "Thank You" to the caring staff of St. John's Health Care.
Please share a memory with the family at www.oakgrovefh.com. Arrangements by Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Dad lived by his 1949 High School motto, “ Rowing, not drifting ”
He was born on August 12, 1931 in Huntington Park, CA the son of the late Lester & Harriet (Larsen) Picardat. He graduated from Manistee High School in 1949. He was a 1954 graduate of the US Naval
Academy with a Bachelor of Science Engineering degree. He continued his education by earning an MBA, training with General Dynamics Astronautics Division and the US Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. These are just a few of his long list. He loved his military career and retired as a Lt Col. of the United Stated Air Force in1976. He served at various Air Force and NASA installations-as well as the Pentagon. After retiring he became the Director of Engineering for Century Boat of Manistee.
He worked for the City of Manistee. At the City he was the Community Development Director,
responsible for the Riverwalk, catwalk to the lighthouse, the stabilization of the north bank of the
river at the Veteran’s Park. He helped replanted the hackberry trees on the memorial drive and
repurposed some as canes for retiring city personnel. He also wrote grants for the City.
He enjoyed golf, watching college football and Detroit Tigers. He was a Master Bridge player
and lead duplicate bridge at the Senior Center for many years. He was in charge of placing the
US Flags by all veterans tombstones at Oak Grove Cemetery. Collecting was his passion:
Coins, kerosene lamps, Manistee Postcards. He was famous for his pepper seasoning and he
kept this recipe secret for over 25 years.
Manistee was the best place to be for Dale and he loved his life here. This is where he chose to
give back. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post#10 and Grand Lodge Free &
Accepted Masons of MI #228, part of the Manistee Airport Authority, served on the Board of
Directors for the Restoration of the Ramsdell Theater, was on the Hospital Board, helped
restore the Veterans Wall by the Library. He was a member of both Manistee National and
Manistee Country Club where he played golf whenever he could. He was chosen to address
the Graduating class of 1988, at his son’s John graduation. This was indeed a privilege and ‘by
far the greatest experience of my life’. Mostly it was his love of family that we will miss the most.
Survivors include his wife; Suzanne, six children; Dale Picardat of Ft. Meyers, FL, Patti (Tim) Forsythe of Sun Lakes, AZ, James (Jodi) Picardat of Driftwood, TX, Kenneth (Desiree) Picardat of Manistee, MI, Phillip (Jessica) Picardat of Grand Rapids, MI & John (Janet) Picardat of Callao, VA, his sister; Renee Zwiefka of Manistee and brother-in-law; James Hansen of Frisco, TX.
Also surviving are 13 grandchildren; Bridget (Shane) Paris of Eaton, CO, Stephanie (Jiten) Patel of Tewksbury, MA, Carlene Holmes of Manistee, MI, Scott (Morgan) Forsythe of Scottsdale, AZ, Amy Forsythe of Sun Lakes, AZ, Heather Forsythe of Mesa, AZ, Joseph Picardat of Austin,TX, Johnathan Picardat of Driftwood, TX, Catharine Picardat of Lawrenceville, GA, Kelvyn Kolk & Leighton Kolk both of Grand Rapids, MI, & Jessica & Jacob Picardat of Virginia, seven great grand-children; Matthew & Dylan Paris of Eaton, CO, Dalton Stevens of VA, Zara Patel of Tewksbury, MA & Charlotte, Benjamin, & Ryker Forsythe of Scottsdale, AZ, and special nieces and nephews; Don Zwiefka, Jane Zwiefka, Sue Turner, Ann Jaska-Rogers, Faye Zwiefka, and Chris & Chad Hansen.
He was also preceded in death by his daughter; Jere Lynn Holmes, his brother; Doug Picardat, brother-in-law; Don Zwiefka, sister-in-law; Carolyn Hansen, niece; Judy Sannes-Zwiefka, and nephew Mark Hansen.
Masonic & Military Graveside Services will be held Saturday, September 17, 2022 at Oak Grove Cemetery in Manistee at 11:00 AM.
Memorials in Dale’s name may be directed to the DAV Chapter #43 Transportation Fund.
The family would like to extended a special "Thank You" to the caring staff of St. John's Health Care.
Please share a memory with the family at www.oakgrovefh.com. Arrangements by Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Dad lived by his 1949 High School motto, “ Rowing, not drifting ”