PRAIRIE DU SAC — Fr. Bernard J. Pickarts died Monday, Sept. 3, 2012, at the age of 83, at Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital and Clinic in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 2450 Atwood Ave., Madison, on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012. Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison, was principal celebrant with Fr. Raymond Dischler as homilist.
Interment was in Resurrection Cemetery, Madison.
Father Pickarts was born on March 10, 1929, in Madison, Wis., and was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Matilda [Birrenkott] Pickarts.
After attending St. Bernard Grade School and East High School in Madison, Father Pickarts attended St. Francis Minor Seminary in Milwaukee and continued his collegiate studies in philosophy and theology at St. Francis Major Seminary, Milwaukee. He was ordained by Bishop William P. O’Connor on May 14, 1955, at St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison.
Father Pickarts served the Diocese of Madison as associate pastor at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Portage; St. Henry Parish, Watertown; and Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison. He then served as pastor at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Lake Mills with Mission of St. Mary Magdalene Parish, Johnson Creek; Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish, Sun Prairie; St. Cecilia Parish, Wisconsin Dells; and St. Augustine Parish, Footville from where he retired in 1999.
During his years of service to the Diocese of Madison, Father Pickarts served as financial secretary of the St. Raphael Society and was a member of the Diocesan Building Commission.
Memorials can be made to St. Vincent de Paul, 720 East Lake Street, Lake Mills, WI 53551.