Anthony L. Pikul

Pikul, Anthony L. Age 93 Died on Dec. 28 in New Hope, MN Tony enjoyed many things in life. He valued his family and friends and always cherished a warm hug and kiss. He was fond of animals, often cuddling with his kitty-cat while reading a book. He golfed for many years, finally ceasing at age 92. Not to be kept dull after retirement, he followed the stock market, built up his library, and kept up with technology, writing e-mails into his 80s. In his 70s he took up sketching and drafted illustrations of celebrities as well as loved ones. Anthony also enjoyed traveling to Maryland, Massachusetts, Florida, Jamaica, California, Northern Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota. Tony was born in Thorndike, Massachusetts and educated at Palmer High School (1932) and Bay Path Institutes of Business Training. As the oldest of eight children, Tony prematurely became "head of the household" at a very early age as the result of his father's serious on-the-job accident and subsequent stroke. Passing up an appointment to West Point, Tony joined the Civilian Conservation Corp. (CCC), 189th Company, office Forestry Dept. In six months he worked his way to Sr. Leader "Top Kick" under Lt. Loyd. Tony was also a member of the National Guard, and later served 3 years ('42-'45) in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he worked coast control via horseback, riding thousands of miles to protect our shores during WWII. Post war, he worked in the U.S. patent office and worked for several C.P.A. firms before passing the C.P.A. exam. After earning his Bachelor and Masters degrees in Commercial Science from Benjamin Franklin University, he worked in the Washington, D.C. area where he joined Horwath and Horwath C.P.A. firm in 1949 (in Wash. D.C.) with which he stayed until retirement. In 1956, he became a general partner after founding their Minneapolis office. Known as the "hotel man's consultant" for over two decades, he did feasiblity studies for prospective hotels, which resulted in the construction of numerous major hotels in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas as well as nearby states. Anthony was a member of the Hennepin Masonic No. 4 of A.F. & A.M. in Minneapolis, MN since 1959, as well as formerly of the Zuhrah Shriner Brotherhood. He also served on a number of Committees of the MN Society of C.P.A.s. His volunteer work included the CONTACT Phone Hotline as well as several offices in his church, Cross of Glory Baptist in Hopkins, MN. Mr. Pikul is survived by his daughter, Sandra-Lynn, and son-in-law Tom Dolen of Shoreview as well as two grandchildren, John and Jennifer. He was preceded in death by his brothers Edward, Martin and Clarence of Massachusetts, and by his first wife (of 30+ years, from Wilbraham, MA), Sally (Stokosa), mother of Sandra-Lynn. Tony also was preceded by his second wife (of 30+ years), Naomi, formerly of Indiana. He also is remembered by Naomi's family of the Ummel/Andersons. In addition, he is survived by brothers George and Chester of Massachusetts and Felix of Florida, as well as by his sister, Julia Lord, in Maine, and many loving nieces and nephews. Memorial Services will be held on Monday at 11:00AM at CROSS OF GLORY BAPTIST CHURCH, Shady Oak Road at Excelsior Blvd., Hopkins, 952-935-3696. Interment will be at Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis. Visitation Sunday, 3:00-6:00PM at: Washburn-McReavy Strobeck Johnson Chapel 1400 Mainstreet, Hopkins 952-938-9020