Richard “Dick” D. Kachel, 89

August 28, 2024

Having accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior as a boy, Richard “Dick” D. Kachel’s desire to be Home with Jesus, and with his departed “sweetie”, Jeanne, nee Spangler, was fulfilled on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at 89 ½ years of age, having been a resident of Brethren Village, Lititz.

Born and raised in Lancaster, he was the firstborn of the late Earl Miller Kachel and Dorothy Elizabeth (Dorwart) Kachel’s five children. He was the caring, and faithful husband of Jeanne Dolores with whom he had celebrated nearly 66 years of marriage at her passing.

Richard shared about his experiences growing up in Lancaster—swimming at the “Y”, selling newspapers, winning a tournament of billiards at the Boy’s Club, taking the trolley to Rocky Springs, selling soft pretzels, and attending Calvary Independent Church on N. Duke Street, among others.

Moving to Millport relocated Dick to the Ephrata area, graduating from Ephrata High School in 1954 with a lifelong group of friends and becoming the treasurer of his class’s alumni committee.

His career as an Industrial Engineer took place at the former New Holland Machine Co./Sperry, now CNH Industrial, from 1958 until retirement in 1991. Subsequently he worked part-time at the D & E Telephone Co., as well as driving school bus for Groff and Brightbill, enjoying many sports activities and time with students of Cocalico, having bought their first and only home in Reamstown in 1965.

As a follower of Christ, Richard was a charter member of Grace Fellowship Church in Ephrata, serving as Assistant, then, Superintendent of the Sunday School, later as church treasurer, and on the Deacon board. He went on several mission’s trips, was a board member of Grace Builders, and was a faithful supporter of many missionaries, mission and Christian organizations, and the church. In later years, he was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Lancaster.

Dick was a bowler, a golfer, a lover of swimming and the shore. As a hunter, his rifle got many walks in the woods. As a grandfather, he taught the grandchildren to swim and dive, fish, and throw and catch a baseball at local swimming pools and parks. On annual family vacations to the shore or elsewhere, he instructed them in miniature golf, body surfing the waves, and riding roller coasters.

An avid reader, Richard thrived on history (historical biographies), the newspaper, and the Bible. As an engineer, numbers flowed from him, like calculating grocery totals for checkout, timing the wait in amusement park lines and then the actual length of the ride, or counting the number of graduates at each grandchild’s ceremony.

Dad, Paw Paw, Dick, Richard will be greatly missed by his three children, Denise Zabala (Jaime), Lancaster, Carey Kachel, New Holland, and Pamela Soufiane, Bowie, MD; nine grandchildren: Amy, Bryan, Ashley, Elliott, Melissa, Kaitlin, Travis, Brittany, and Sarah; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his four siblings: Marianne, Theodore, Thomas, and Earl, Jr.

Family and friends are invited to a viewing from 6:30PM to 8PM, Friday, September 6, 2024, at Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543. A graveside service will take place at 9:30AM, Saturday, September 7, at Middle Creek Brethren Cemetery, 351 Middle Creek Rd., Lititz, PA 17543. A Memorial Service will follow at 11:30AM at Calvary Baptist Church, 530 Milton Rd., Lancaster, PA 17602. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Richard’s memory may be made to Prayer Leaders Network, P. O. Box 10667, Terre Haute, IN 47801; prayerleader.com\donate.

Watch the tribute video