RACINE – Fred J. Reichley, 73, passed away unexpectedly from a brain hemorrhage at WFH-All Saints on Friday, January 24, 2014.

He was born in Sunbury, PA on January 9, 1941, the son of Grover and Edna (nee: Smeltz) Reichley.  He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.  On June 2, 1962 he married his high school sweetheart, Suzann Stroup.  They moved to Wisconsin where Fred earned his master's degree in chemistry from U.W. – Madison.  Fred was hired by S.C. Johnson Wax and in 1965 established his family's home in Racine.  He retired 35 years later as Director of Research and Development.

If you met Fred you could expect to be asked a few questions about your schooling, where you were from, and what you were involved in since he was interested in people and liked to share in their story. He enjoyed sports and especially cheering on his favorite team, the WI Badgers.  Fred enjoyed listening to a wide variety of music and his calendar was full of theatre plays, broadway shows, and musical performances that he attended with his wife.

Fred loved being surrounded by his family.  He was always in the audience encouraging his grandchildren's participation in the activities that they enjoyed.  Time together with family was important to Fred and he loved family vacations.  His children and grandchildren will always have great memories especially from the beach in Ocean City, Md.

His retirement gave him time to travel and expand his interest in history, geography and of course other people around the world. He developed an ice cream radar and could find a chocolate cone no matter where his travels took him. Many have heard his words of encouragement during his regular workouts at JMBA. Fred became an active volunteer and served as president and board member at church and with the Kiwanis Club. He enjoyed reading and was involved with a civil war book club.

In addition to his loving wife, Suzann he is survived by his daughters, Mary Ann (Neil) Nelson of Aurora, IL, Kathryn (Paul) Hoffman of Appleton, Pamela (Ben) Oksiuta, Sharon (Glen) Steensen both of Racine, Christine (Mike) Jacobs of Oak Creek; his grandchildren, Parker Nelson, Christopher, Alexander and Andrew Hoffman, Connor Taylor, Nicholas, Megan, and Caitlyn Steensen, Nate, Rachel and Lauren Jacobs; his brother, Richard (Joan) Reichley of Baltimore; his sisters-in-law, Barbara (David) Broadt of Lewisburg, PA, Sandra (Charles) Lehman of Baltimore, MD, Nancy (John) Herman of Northumberland, PA; as well as many nieces and nephews.  He was also preceded in death by his son Douglas Reichley on May 23, 2001 and his brothers and sister, Charles, Marlin, Harold and Eva Reichley.

Family and friends are invited to meet in the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Friday evening for a visitation from 4-7 p.m.   A service celebrating Fred's life will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (322 Ohio St) on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 11:00 a.m.  There will also be a visitation in the church from 10-11 a.m.  A private interment will take place at Graceland Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested to the Fred J. Reichley '62 Endowed Scholarship Fund at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA, the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, the West Racine Kiwanis or a charity of one's choice.