Stephen L. Rickel Jr., 77, Fountaintown, passed away Monday, September 5, 2016, at Hancock Regional Hospice in Greenfield. Born on March 31, 1939, in Detroit, Mich., Steve was the son of Stephen L. and Marion E. (Marr) Rickel.
He graduated from Lee M. Thurston High School in 1957 and served in the Army until being honorably discharged in 1964. He married Phyllis D. (Kroening) Rickel on March 25, 1961, in Indianapolis.
Steve worked as a producer and director for WISH-TV Channel 8 in Indianapolis for more than 35 years before retiring in 2002. He was a member of the Morristown Lion’s Club and the American Legion Post #119. Steve was a lifelong Detroit Tiger’s fan, who loved to tell a good joke and was always the life of the party! He dearly loved his family and attended nearly every one of his grandkids’ sporting events.
He leaves behind his son, Stephen L. Rickel, III of West Chester, Penn.; daughters, Stephanie M. Wells of Fountaintown, Shannon L. Martin of Verona, Wisc., and Shelley D. Lee of Morristown; sister, Sharon S. Flobeck of Cape Coral, Fla; 11 grandchildren, Andrew, Brittany, Grant, Jonathan, Ava, Meredith, Tyler, Travis, Nick, Grace and James; several nieces and nephews; and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Phyllis.
Visitation will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, at Erlewein Mortuary & Crematory, 1484 West US 40, Greenfield. A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 12, also at the mortuary. Pastor Katherine Murray and Pastor Mike Smith will officiate. Burial with military rites will follow at Concord Cemetery in Fountaintown.
Memorial contributions may be sent directly to the Sue Ann Wortman Cancer Center, 801 N. State St., Greenfield, IN 46140. Envelopes will also be available at the mortuary.
Friends may share a memory or send a condolence at erleweinmortuary.com or email condolences to [email protected].
