William A. Rickmers, 84, of ¬¬¬¬Hummelstown, passed away Sunday, April 9, 2017, in the M. S. Hershey Medical Center.
Born in Schuylkill Haven on February 21, 1933, he was the son of the late Otto Karl and Laura Kile Rickmers.
Bill retired as a Foreman from the former Olin Miller Corporation. He was a 1950 graduate of the former Hershey Industrial. Bill was an US Army veteran having served during the Korean era. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity, Hershey, and a former member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hummelstown. At Holy Trinity Lutheran, Bill served as Sunday School Superintendent, on the Congregation Council, as a Sunday School Teacher and Usher; and was responsible for expanding the Acolyte program to allow girls to serve. While a member of Zion Lutheran, he served on the Church Council, as a Sunday School Teacher, and an Usher. Bill was a 60 year member of the American Legion Post 265, Hummelstown. For 17 years he served as the leader of Boy Scout Troop and Cub Pack #65 of his church in Hershey; and had received the Boy Scout Award of Merit for his service. Bill was a an avid Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, and Notre Dame sports fan; and enjoyed collecting coins.
In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his loving wife, Letitia Breckenmaker Rickmers on February 11, 2006; and sisters and brothers, Madaline Funk, Ellis Rickmers, Karl Rickmers, Ella Rickmers, Leo Rickmers, Robert Rickmers, Albert Rickmers, Claudius Rickmers, Dorothy Troy, and Paul Rickmers.
Bill is survived by a daughter, Sheryl A. Rickmers of Hummelstown; a son, Keith A. Rickmers of Hummelstown; a grandson, Paul M. Rickmers of Jacksonville, NC; and a brother, Charles “Duane” Sutliff husband of Fran of New York.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at 11 AM in the Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, Inc., 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, with The Rev. Cindy A. Brommer, officiating. Interment with military honors will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. Viewings will be held in the funeral home Monday, April 17, 2017, from 6 to 8 PM, and again on Tuesday from 10 AM until time of the service.
In lieu of flowers and in keeping with Bill’s wishes, the family
requests memorial contributions be made to the Holy Trinity Youth Group, 212 Cocoa Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033; or to Boy Scout Troop #65, 212 Cocoa Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033.
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