Richard F. “Dick” Cheers, 65, of Jones Road, Emlenton, Richland Twp., Clarion County, passed on to his heavenly home Friday morning, December 20, 2013 in the hospice at the Butler VA Medical Center following a courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Franklin on May 21, 1948, Dick was the son of Patsy Graham Cheers of Franklin and the late Frank L. Cheers.
Dick was a 1966 graduate of Valley Grove High School in Rocky Grove and attended Clarion University at the Venango Campus. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, and was a Seabee in Mobile Construction Battalion #53.
He served in Vietnam in 1969.
Dick attended the Salem Lutheran Church. He enjoyed traveling, camping, and the company of his family, especially his grandchildren.
He was a member and past master of the Edenburg Masonic Lodge #550 F&AM in Knox.
He was a member the NRA and the DeHart-Rossman-Wenner American Legion Post #997 in Lamartine. Dick was known as “Mr. Fix It”. He was a skilled carpenter and mechanic and was called upon by family and friends to build and fix things. Dick was last employed by Reckart Sawmill Equipment in Shippenville.
Dick is survived by his wife, Ann L. Rhoades Cheers, whom he married at the Salem Lutheran Church on May 3, 1968. Also surviving are three children, Aimee E. Lauezzari and her husband, Terry, of Ardeley, England, Susyn R. Klingler and her husband, Jeremy, of Emlenton, Greg R. Cheers and his wife, Vonda, of Louisville, KY; five grandchildren, Emilee D. and Paige M. Klingler of Emlenton, Faith A., Korben G., and August V. Cheers of Louisville, two step grandchildren, Bo and Teri Lauezzari of Ardeley, England; two exchange student daughters, Claudia Neidl and her husband, Klaus, and their sons of Amberg,Germany and Birgit la Cour Madsen and her husband, Jesper, and their sons of Denmark; a sister, Bessie Nolf and her husband, Tony, of Franklin, and two brothers, Donald Cheers and his wife, Nora, of Franklin and Neil Cheers of Polk, as well as a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
In addition to his father, Dick was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents.
Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home Inc., 1204 Kerr Ave, Emlenton, from 1 – 3 and 6 – 9 p.m. Sunday. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday at the Salem Lutheran Church, 2057 Rt. 208, Lamartine, PA 16375, with the Rev. Karen Parsh, church pastor, officiating.
Interment with military honors accorded by the Lamartine American Legion Post will follow at Salem Lutheran Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Salem Lutheran Church Building Fund, PO Box 82, Lamartine, PA 16375.
Members of Edenburg Masonic Lodge #550 will hold a memorial service for their departed brother at 5:45 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.