Wayne A. Rishel

Wayne Rishel, 83 of Millheim passed into the loving arms of our Lord on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.  He was born on January 27, 1938 in Penn Township, number 11 of 13 children of Clarence and Helen Hosterman Rishel.  On November 28, 1959 he married the love of his life, Delores Biddle Rishel.  This past weekend they celebrated 62 years together.  He was honored to call James and Virginia Biddle, his father and mother-in-law.

Wayne was an amazing husband, father, grandfather and friend to everyone he knew.  He loved his children and grandchildren more than anything and worked hard to provide a great life for his family. He is survived by his daughters and their spouses, Shelly and Marlin Weaver of Coburn and Nancy and Mark Wise of Spring Mills.  He had nicknames for each of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and they expected to hear "There's Pappy's Girl/Boy" every time they walked through the door.  These grandchildren/great-grandchildren worshiped him and would do anything for their Pappy.  Macada and Garry Loner and their children Rylin, Corbin and Emberlin of Millheim, Megan and Paul Harper and daughter Kennedy of Aaronsburg, Matthew Wayne and Emily Weaver and their children, Greyson, Maddex Wayne, and Adelyn of Coburn, Katelyn Wise and her son Braxton of Spring Mills and Conner and Brittany Wise and their children, Aidyn, Layla and Trystan Wayne of Rebersburg.

The Rishel Family was large and did not have much, but were the wealthiest people you will ever meet when it came to their love for each other. Surviving sisters Phyllis Musser of Vestal NY, Leona Haugh of Hughesville and Cindy and Dick Decker of Centre Hall and his sister-in laws Connie Rishel of Millheim and Jean Rishel of Spring Mills.  Biddle Family members Janet and Jim (the Mayor) McClellan of Lewisburg, Drexel Biddle of Denver, CO and Edward and Vickie Biddle of Spring Mills.  Numerous amazing nieces and nephews.

Wayne was the last surviving son in the Rishel family, he was preceded in death by the following siblings and their spouses, Allen (Laura) Rishel, Richard Rishel, Donald (Shirley) Rishel, Dean Rishel, Gladys Hartley, Grace (Clifford) Luttner, Beatrice (Lowell) Stover, Dorothy (Robert) Long and Marie (Harry) VonNeida. Brother-in laws Robert Haugh and Edward Musser and sister-in-law, Donna Biddle.

He was a 1956 graduate of East Penns Valley High School. In 1956 he joined the Army and served our country in Germany from 1956-1958. Upon his return from the Army he worked at the PA Fish Commission before taking his career position as the Food Service Director at Rockview State Correctional Institute from August 1963 to January1993.  He was a former member of Logan Grange and a current member of Penns Valley Grange #158 in Spring Mills. He loved Grange Fair and served as a fair committee member for many years and also as the grange park equine committee chair.  Wayne was instrumental in the construction of the first horse barn at the equine facility.  One of his favorite things was parking RV's at the fair for over 42 years.   He was a 50+ year member of the Millheim Lions Club, where he served in many offices including President and Treasurer.   He was a former member and Vice-President of the Penns Valley Area School Board.  A lifetime member of St. James United Methodist Church in Coburn where he served in many capacities including, church trustee, head usher and communion steward.  He loved to bowl, play cards, visit at Long's Auto Part’s (where he worked for over 25 years as a part-time retirement job), hanging-out at Wayne Highbaugh’s garage and attend the morning meetings of the Millheim Coffee Club.

Family and friends will be received on Monday, December 6, 2021 from 9-11 am at St. James United Methodist Church, Main Street, Coburn, PA followed by the Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 am with Pastor Chris Lutz officiating.  Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Millheim, PA.  Memorial contributions can be made to St. James United Methodist Church, PO Box 90, Coburn PA 16832 or Penns Valley Youth Center, PO Box 175, Spring Mills PA 16875.  Wayne has received numerous blood transfusions over the past several years, please consider donating blood in Wayne's name.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wayne A. Rishel, please visit our floral store.