Valentin "Rein" Pikat, age 90, passed away on June 13, 2019. He was born in Tartu on October 1, 1928 to Aleksander and Amanda Pikat, their first son. He is survived by his wife of over 59 years, Hilja, his son Eero, and three grandchildren, Aliise, Helis, and Ipsie, as well as nieces Helvi and Tiina. Rein is preceded in death by his father Aleksander, his mother Amanda, his older brother Viktor and sister Liidia, and his younger brother Olaf.

Rein grew up in Tartu, Estonia, but was forced to leave with his family towards the end of WWII, and fled to Augsburg, Germany, and was in a DP camp. Thereafter, he immigrated to the US in the late 1940s. He was drafted into the US Army during the Korean War, but spent his time in the military in France. After the Army, Rein returned to Chicago and began a career as a fine and commercial artist. He met Hilja (née Palm) and they married in November of 1959. Rein worked as a commercial artist for R.R. Donnelley, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the Lerner Newspapers. Rein always enjoyed travel and being with his friends. He will be missed by many.

Visitation Sunday, June 23, 2019 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Michalik Funeral Home, 1056 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60642. Service at 3:00 p.m. Interment in Tartu, Estonia.

For further information 312-421-0936.