Obituary for Courtney Gale Pitkin Jr Courtney “Gig” Gale Pitkin Jr. died unexpectedly at his home in Richmond Heights on November 15, 2018. Funeral services will be held at Jefferson Barracks Chapel on November 30th, 2018, at 2:30 PM. A vehicle procession will leave from the Jefferson Barracks main entrance at 2:15 PM, and head to the Chapel on grounds.
No cars may enter the Barracks after 2:15; walking only. A wake at the Pitkin residence (1431 Claytonia Terrace 63117) will follow the service. Food and drinks will be served, and all friends and family are welcome to join.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Claytonia Terrace Residents Association (501(c)(3) – E.I.N. 47-3671308); care of: Syma Waxman, 1509 Claytonia Terrace 63117. “About Gig” Gig was born July 20, 1943, in Saint Louis, Missouri, to Courtney and Margaret Pitkin Sr. Growing up, while spending summers in Whitehall, Michigan and winters in Saint Louis, Missouri, Gig learned the fine arts of boating, sailing and pyrotechnics. Gig’s father is heavily credited with modeling and helping to develop Gig’s renowned reputation as a tinkerer and ‘putzer,’ and encouraging Gig’s uncanny ability to recall random details and retain knowledge in far too many subject areas for the rest of us to possibly follow and/or understand.
Thankfully, and at least as far as his parents knew, only once did Gig and his brother, Joseph Pitkin, use their knowledge of pyrotechnics to come dangerously close to burning down their childhood home. Gig graduated from Saint Louis University High School In 1961 then briefly attended Notre Dame which he left to join the Army Signal Corp. In 1968 he graduated from Saint Louis University with a bachelors degree in Political Science.
But it was during the fall of 1968, while attending Saint Louis University’s Law school, that his life would change forever when he met Karen L. Carlson. With haphazard wooing, several innocent car rides home and finally a first date, a partnership of love and support was born. Gig married his best-friend Karen at the festively decorated Bethel Lutheran Church on January 4, 1974 (a date that somehow consistently eluded both of them year after year).
A blowing snowstorm, and a party at the Seminary “that was a pretty good time,” forced them to cancel their honeymoon. Something, by the way, which Gig was never allowed to forget. Karen gave Gig the opportunity to be a husband and a father, and he often admitted that she helped him become a better man.
Gig taught Karen to appreciate fine wine and whiskey, and was the type of partner that was happy to always be there to support Karen (by taking care of the dishes, the laundry, the cleaning, and all other general putzing anyone could possibly hope for in a spouse). Gig and Karen’s partnership endured through his pneumonia and unemployment in the late 70’s. Karen was pregnant with one child, working several jobs and taking care of a two year old while trying to nurse an intractable Gig.
When he recovered, he started his career at Schiller’s Camera. Schiller’s provided Gig a place where he got to play with all the new toys and technologies. A place where he could be detail oriented, goofy, cranky and excited as a child.
He wholeheartedly supported and loyally struggled with Karen when she chose to follow her calling to become a Deaconess and Chaplain. Holding a hand to lift when asked, an ear to listen when wanted and a mouth to nag when needed. He never complained about being “volunteered” by Karen to work on any project or service.
He just kvetch’d about how it would all get done. In fact, many will remember him as a Deaconess Auxiliary. He loved his children: Jennifer Courtney Emerson (Stephen Emerson) and Philip William Pitkin; his grandchildren: Courtney Emerson and William Emerson; and the rest of his family, neighbors and friends.
He loved and survived his parents and brother. And, in his endearing way, he gave of himself to all that he could. Gig survived this life well.
He would always help, even when you didn’t particularly want him to. However, as much as he loved problem solving and fixing “things,” whenever a true issue arose, Gig set all ancillary items aside until he was sure the people involved were ok and cared for. He paid attention to the details of any conversation with you.
You could mention something errantly and a month later he would have several articles about the item or a coupon to help you get it. He always thought of others. Sometimes he thought of them as idiots, but he always thought of them with care.
He was a putz and a goofball. He loved his music and to argue. He was a good man.
He loved nothing more than his wife Karen. He cared for, doted for, griped for, putz’d for and loved her. Nothing and no one made him smile more.
He will be missed. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Courtney Gale Pitkin Jr please visit our Sympathy Store. Upcoming Events Graveside Service , NOV 30.
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery 2900 Sheridan Jefferson Barracks, MO, US, 63125 Order Flowers for the Graveside Service Guaranteed delivery before Courtney’s Graveside Service begins.
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