FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FUNERAL HOMES SINCE 1881
| William C. Reichert |
| May 14, 1925 - November 4, 2025 |
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Public Events and LocationsVisitation - Monday, November 17, 2025, 9:00 to 10:00 AM at Wetzel and Son, Willow GroveFuneral Service - Monday, November 17, 2025, 10:00 AM at Wetzel and Son, Willow Grove Graveside Service - Monday, November 17, 2025, 11:30 AM at Forest Hills Cemetery, Huntingdon Valley Military Honors - Monday, November 17, 2025, 11:30 AM at Forest Hills Cemetery, Huntingdon Valley |
ContactsFuneral Home - Wetzel and Son Funeral Home - 501 Easton Road, Willow Grove, PA 19090 - 215-659-0911 - Map |
| Clergy - St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church - 211 South Main Street, North Wales, PA 19454 - 215-699-4604 - Map |
| Cemetery - Forest Hills Cemetery - 101 Byberry Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 - 215-673-5800 - Map |
| Family Florist - Beth’s Flower Boutique - 369 Easton Road, Horsham, PA 19044 - 215-672-8901 - Map |
| Donation - St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church - 211 South Main Street, North Wales, PA 19454 - 215-699-4604 - Map |
| Donation - Dock Woods Benevolent Fund - 275 Dock Drive, Lansdale, PA 19446 - 215-368-4438 - Map |
The following obituary was composed by Bill’s family:
Lansdale, Pennsylvania
William Charles Reichert died on November 4, 2025. He was 100 years old.
William (known to friends and family as “Willie” or “Bill”) was born on May 14, 1925 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Nanny and George Reichert. He was the proud husband of Hilde Degler Reichert (deceased 2020); father of Linda Reichert (Mark Putnam), Nansee Messenger, and Donald Reichert (Rebecca); grandfather of Brian Reichert, Micah Messinger (Saloni Dalal), Kayleigh Hurley (John), Kyra Messinger, Mira Putnam and Thea Putnam; and great-grandfather of Trey, Logan and Hazel Hurley. He was also the brother of Louise and George Reichert (Marie).
Bill graduated from Gratz High School in 1943 during WW2 and immediately enlisted in the Navy to become a turret gunner as part of a three-man crew on a torpedo bomber (the Avenger.) He joined Torpedo Squadron One aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bennington, saw action in the Pacific, and flew into Tokyo Bay as part of the Navy fleet on VJ Day, August 15, 1945. Service in the Navy was a formative part of Bill’s life.
After the war, Bill found himself in church one Sunday “looking at this good-looking gal singing in the choir.” He asked the gal, Hilde Degler, on a date to the Ice Follies, and after she said yes, he went out and bought the tickets. They were married on June 25, 1949.
Bill was always fascinated with form and design. He graduated from Drexel University with a degree in architecture and worked for various Philadelphia firms until he became part of the Kling Lindquist architecture firm. He was senior project architect for many important buildings, including the Municipal Services Building in Philadelphia and the University of Connecticut Medical Center.
Bill started married life in Philadelphia and eventually moved to Abington Township, where he and Hilde raised their three children. Bill was invested in making sure he and his family experienced the vast beauty of the United States, and arranged many camping trips throughout the country, including to the west coast, the Rocky Mountains, New England and Canada, and the southeast U.S.
But throughout it all, Bill and Hilde’s most favored place was Ocean City, N.J., where they eventually bought, improved and expanded a small cottage. The extended family enjoyed many wonderful holidays and vacations with them in Ocean City after Bill and Hilde retired there in 1990. Bill relished taking his boat out into the ocean and bay on fishing trips with family members. He was also an enthusiastic member of the Ocean City Fishing Club where he spent many peaceful hours catching (or trying to catch) fish off the pier.
Bill and Hilde moved to the Dock Woods retirement community in 2008, where they resided until their passing.
William Reichert lived a full and long life. He was born a preemie (not expected to survive), lived through WW2, and made it to 100+ years, with “all his marbles” (his term.) He is much loved and will be very much missed. We carry him in our hearts.
Relatives and friends were invited to his visitation on Monday, November 17, 2025 from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. and funeral service at 10:00 A.M. at Wetzel and Son Funeral Home, 501 Easton Road, Willow Grove, PA 19090. His graveside service followed with military honors rendered by the United States Navy at Forest Hills Cemetery, 101 Byberry Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006. Everyone is invited to a reception after the cemetery services.
Religious services were conducted by Rev. Andreas Wagner from St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 211 South Main Street, North Wales, PA 19454.
Family flowers arranged by Beth’s Flower Boutique 215-672-8901.
Donations in Bill’s honor may be made to: St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 211 South Main Street, North Wales, PA 19454 or Dock Woods Benevolent Fund, 275 Dock Drive, Lansdale, PA 19446.
www.wetzelandson.com
Lansdale, Pennsylvania
William Charles Reichert died on November 4, 2025. He was 100 years old.
William (known to friends and family as “Willie” or “Bill”) was born on May 14, 1925 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Nanny and George Reichert. He was the proud husband of Hilde Degler Reichert (deceased 2020); father of Linda Reichert (Mark Putnam), Nansee Messenger, and Donald Reichert (Rebecca); grandfather of Brian Reichert, Micah Messinger (Saloni Dalal), Kayleigh Hurley (John), Kyra Messinger, Mira Putnam and Thea Putnam; and great-grandfather of Trey, Logan and Hazel Hurley. He was also the brother of Louise and George Reichert (Marie).
Bill graduated from Gratz High School in 1943 during WW2 and immediately enlisted in the Navy to become a turret gunner as part of a three-man crew on a torpedo bomber (the Avenger.) He joined Torpedo Squadron One aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bennington, saw action in the Pacific, and flew into Tokyo Bay as part of the Navy fleet on VJ Day, August 15, 1945. Service in the Navy was a formative part of Bill’s life.
After the war, Bill found himself in church one Sunday “looking at this good-looking gal singing in the choir.” He asked the gal, Hilde Degler, on a date to the Ice Follies, and after she said yes, he went out and bought the tickets. They were married on June 25, 1949.
Bill was always fascinated with form and design. He graduated from Drexel University with a degree in architecture and worked for various Philadelphia firms until he became part of the Kling Lindquist architecture firm. He was senior project architect for many important buildings, including the Municipal Services Building in Philadelphia and the University of Connecticut Medical Center.
Bill started married life in Philadelphia and eventually moved to Abington Township, where he and Hilde raised their three children. Bill was invested in making sure he and his family experienced the vast beauty of the United States, and arranged many camping trips throughout the country, including to the west coast, the Rocky Mountains, New England and Canada, and the southeast U.S.
But throughout it all, Bill and Hilde’s most favored place was Ocean City, N.J., where they eventually bought, improved and expanded a small cottage. The extended family enjoyed many wonderful holidays and vacations with them in Ocean City after Bill and Hilde retired there in 1990. Bill relished taking his boat out into the ocean and bay on fishing trips with family members. He was also an enthusiastic member of the Ocean City Fishing Club where he spent many peaceful hours catching (or trying to catch) fish off the pier.
Bill and Hilde moved to the Dock Woods retirement community in 2008, where they resided until their passing.
William Reichert lived a full and long life. He was born a preemie (not expected to survive), lived through WW2, and made it to 100+ years, with “all his marbles” (his term.) He is much loved and will be very much missed. We carry him in our hearts.
Relatives and friends were invited to his visitation on Monday, November 17, 2025 from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. and funeral service at 10:00 A.M. at Wetzel and Son Funeral Home, 501 Easton Road, Willow Grove, PA 19090. His graveside service followed with military honors rendered by the United States Navy at Forest Hills Cemetery, 101 Byberry Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006. Everyone is invited to a reception after the cemetery services.
Religious services were conducted by Rev. Andreas Wagner from St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 211 South Main Street, North Wales, PA 19454.
Family flowers arranged by Beth’s Flower Boutique 215-672-8901.
Donations in Bill’s honor may be made to: St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 211 South Main Street, North Wales, PA 19454 or Dock Woods Benevolent Fund, 275 Dock Drive, Lansdale, PA 19446.
www.wetzelandson.com
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