Frank J. Rieker, 91

Frank J. Rieker, 91, of Lancaster, PA passed away on October 28, 2011 at the Altoona Regional Hospital. He was the son of the late Frank A. and Florence G. (Bittner) Rieker.

Born September 9, 1920 he attended St. Joseph’s Elementary School on Cabbage Hill where he grew up and graduated from Lancaster High School in 1939. He also studied at Thaddeus Stevens Trade School. Frank took his technical skills to the Bendix Company in Philadelphia where he worked on aviation instruments.

Entering the Army in June of 1943, Frank was eventually assigned to the 128th AAA gun battalion throughout the European Theatre of operation. During World War II, his service took him through Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, including Dachau death camp.

He was a member of VFW Post # 5752 Mount Joy and the local American legion.

Upon returning to United States in January of 1946, he eventually gained employment at PPG, first as a glazier and later as an estimator. Venturing out on his own, he founded Penn Glass Company in 1959. The company is now owned and operated by his sons, Jeffrey M. Rieker, husband of Nancy Rieker, of Lancaster and Michael J. Rieker, husband of Lynn Rieker, of Holtwood.

Throughout Frank’s life, he built several homes. Being an avid reader, Frank was always interested in technical/trade publications, investment knowledge and political writings. He thoroughly enjoyed fly fishing, especially in the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania.

Frank was of the Catholic faith and a longtime member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church and a former member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.

He is preceded in death by his first wife, Esther M. (Fisher) in 1980, and is survived by his present wife, Jeanne F. (Driscoll) Rieker, of Lancaster. Additionally, he is survived by four sisters, Shirley Burger, of Lancaster, Betty Cetrone, of NH, Florence Stoner, of Mount Joy, and Pat Tierney, of Lancaster. He is the grandfather of Matthew Rieker, Philadelphia, Ethan Rieker, and Jonathan Rieker, of Lancaster, and Aaron Rieker, of Holtwood. Additionally, he is survived by Marsha Parke, wife of Keith Parke, Barbara and Eileen Monteith, four step grandsons, Drew and Kyle Miller, Jarred and Todd Parke, and four step great grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to a Mass of Christian Burial in the Chapel of the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory 3110 Lititz Pike on Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 11am with The Rev. Philip Burger, a nephew, as Celebrant. Friends may gather to pay their respects at Snyder’s from 10-11am. Interment will be at St. Joseph New Catholic Cemetery with Military Honors rendered by the Red Rose Veterans Honor Guard and Vet-21 Salute Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home P.O. Box 319 Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105. To send the family an online condolence, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory 717-560-5100