Thomas Dee Rishel
Passed: April 21, 2016
South Beaver Township
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Thomas Dee Rishel
Passed: April 21, 2016
South Beaver Township
Obituary
Thomas Dee Rishel, 98, of South Beaver Township, formerly a longtime resident of Baden, passed away Wednesday, April 21, 2016. He was born in Rossiter, PA, to the late Thomas Monroe and Minnie (Woodly) Rishel on April 10, 1918. He was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel (Jordan) Rishel; an infant granddaughter, Marla Rishel; a sister, Mildred Robbins, and brothers, Thorne (Pete), Lloyd (Joe), Wade, and Robert. Tom is survived by his son, James Rishel of Ambridge; son, Harold Glenn Rishel, wife Georgianna and grandson, Thomas George Rishel of Lakeville, MN; sister-in-law, Jean (Wade) Rishel of Baden; brothers, Jack and wife Loretta Rishel of Orchard Park, NY, and David Rishel of Pulaski Twp.; very close niece, Yvette Katekovich of Baden; along with many other relatives and friends. Tom loved to tell stories about how he walked to country school, worked on the family farm, drove a team of horses during the winter skidding logs for mine props. He worked in a coal mine until he was injured during a cave in. He joined CCC’s and worked at Beltsville, Maryland. He traveled to Washington, DC for President Franklin Roosevelt’s Second Inauguration. He worked for Duquesne Light installing poles to bring electricity to rural homes. During World War II, Tom served 32 months overseas working in Army ordinance moving from New Caledonia in the South Pacific all the way to Japan. He was in the Philippines during August 1945 and as a Sergeant of the Guard for the day, he tacked up the notice that the war had ended. Tom and Hazel married on May 11, 1946, in Allegheny County. They lived in Leet Township until they moved to their new home in Baden in 1956, where Tom lived for the next 58 years. Tom worked at National Electric/H.K. Porter plating pipe and later at J & L Steel handling coal. He loved spring fishing and fall hunting. He spent many hours gardening, trimming hedges and mowing the lawn into his 90’s. He was a loyal Pirates fan and watched hundreds of games on TV. When asked if he ever worried about things, Tom’s response was “…that would show a lack of faith in my God.” When Tom retired his first task was to read the Bible from cover to cover. He attended United Presbyterian Church in Ambridge and appreciated the many home visits from Rev. John B. Dickey. Friends will be received Tuesday from 2 to 7 p.m. in the GABAUER-MATTER FUNERAL HOME, 1133 Church St., Ambridge, www.gabauermatterfuneralhome, where a service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. The Rev. Beth Wierman and the Rev. John B. Dickey will co-officiate. Private interment will take place in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park. The family asks that memorials be given to United Presbyterian Church, 823 Maplewood Avenue, Ambridge, PA 15003. The family would like to give special thanks to the Heritage Hospice for their genuine compassion and support in Tom’s final days.