Carl Albert Reck passed away Dec. 27, 2011, in Gloucester, Va., after a long battle with cancer.
He was born Jan. 1, 1930, in Vernon County, Wis., to the late Carl Gustave and Eva Marie (Meissner) Reck.
Carl graduated from St. John’s Cathedral High School, Milwaukee, Wis., in 1948 and then enlisted in the Army. After attaining the rank of staff sergeant, Carl attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Signal Corps in 1952. His worldwide service locations included Korea, Japan, Seattle Washington, Cherbourg, France, Heidelberg, Germany, Governors Island, New York, Vietnam, the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Nike Air Defense Brigade, Orleans, France, Stuttgart, Germany, and finally Fort Monmouth, N.J., where Carl was the Signal School Automated Data Processing Chief. Carl spent over 10 years overseas, including four years in the Far East in the Korean and Vietnam wars, and six years in Europe during the Cold War.
He retired from the Army in 1970 at the rank of lieutenant colonel and moved to Woodstock, Vt., where he worked for New England Telephone in communications systems sales in Rutland, Vt. While there, he also earned a Bachelor of Science degree with highest honors in business administration from Castleton State College. He retired again in 1992 and settled in Gloucester, Va. Carl was a vibrant member of the Gloucester community, volunteering his service at Riverside Hospital, as a loyal member of St. Therese Catholic Church, and as secretary of the local Knights of Columbus. In his spare time, Carl was an avid gardener and expert woodworker.
Carl was preceded in death by his wife, Florence Elizabeth (Driscoll) Reck. He is survived by five children: a daughter, Mary Fleischman (Lewis) of Burlington, Vt. and four sons, Jeffrey Reck (Sherry) of Franklin, Mass., Keith Reck (Pamela) of Virginia Beach, Va., Christopher Reck (Sandra) of Vergennes, Vt., and Terence Reck (Jahnna) of Greer, S.C. Carl was the grandfather of six: Dr. Julie Pierpoint Reck (Matthew) of Fort Mill, S.C., Caitlin Reck of Chester, Vt., Jonathan Reck (Rebecca) of Dallas, Tex., Alyssa Reck of Ashburnham, Mass., Kellan Reck of Ashburnham, and Elaina Reck of Greer, S.C.
Carl is survived by three sisters, Lucille Stanton of Milwaukee, Wis., Geraldine Hayes of Butler, Wis., and Elizabeth Spindler of Milwaukee. He is also survived by two brothers, Francis of Mundelein, Ill. and Ronald (Caroline) of Milwaukee. Carl is also survived by brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Barbara Driscoll of Tewksbury, Mass., and sister-in-law, Sally Driscoll of Gloucester.
Carl leaves numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, and other relatives. He enjoyed numerous close friendships throughout the Gloucester area.
The family received relatives and friends on Sunday, Jan. 1, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Hogg Funeral Home, Gloucester Point. A Mass of Christian Funeral conducted by the Rev. James Cowles was held on Monday, Jan. 2, 11 a.m., at St. Therese Catholic Church, Gloucester. Interment with full military honors will be 3 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
Those desiring to make donations in Carl’s memory, may do so to the American Cancer Society, c/o Mrs. G. Edward Mowry, 7274 Joseph Lewis Road, Hayes, Va. 23072 or St. Therese Catholic Church, 6262 Main Street, Gloucester, Va. 23061.