Gene E. Reitchel

Gene E. Reitchel, age 66, of Maine, formerly of Wilmington, MA, passed away, accompanied by family, at Maine Medical Center, Portland Sunday, September 10, 2023, after ongoing health issues and a brief, recent illness.   

Gene grew up part of a large family (9 siblings) in North Wilmington, mostly on a farm on Mystic Avenue and also on Hamlin Lane and Glen Road.  He graduated Wilmington High School with the Class of 1976.  

Gene served his Maine Community as a Maine Deputy Sheriff from 1977-1980, and proudly served as Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps from 1980 to 1982, where he was predominantly stationed and serving in Okinawa, Japan, as an Equipment Operator.   Following his Military Service, Gene worked as a truck delivery driver in various capacities in Massachusetts and Maine, eventually relocating from Wilmington to the Fryeburg, Bridgeton, Naples, and Casco areas of Maine.   

Gene was the dear son of the late Paul Reitchel and Doris “Dodie” (Skeffington) Reitchel.  Gene is the sibling of Paul (and Ellen) Reitchel of Augusta, ME;  Kevin (and Barbara) Reitchel of Derring, NH; the late Richard “Dicky” Reitchel (and Debra) of Zephyrhills, FL;  Marilyn “Mal” Reitchel Gambale of North Billerica, MA; John “Bing” (and Joanne Centrella) of Tewksbury, MA;  William “Billy” (and Pam Landry) of Bradford, MA;  the late James “Jimmy” Reitchel; and Dorice Reitchel (and the late Bob Falco) of Manchester, NH. Gene is further survived by 40+ nieces and nephews (including great nieces and nephews), countless Skeffington and Reitchel cousins and close childhood friends and neighbors, with whom he grew up, in Wilmington, MA and several close friends in Naples and Casco, ME. 

Please join Gene's family as we celebrate his life on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at a Graveside Interment with Military Honors at 2:30 p.m. in Wildwood Cemetery, 233 Middlesex Avenue, Poplar Street, Wilmington, MA.  Visiting Hours will take place from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Avenue (Route 62), Wilmington, MA and Celebration of Life dinner & get together to follow at 6:30 PM at a nearby restaurant TBD. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Gene’s memory to the Wilmington Local Veterans Organization:  Local Heroes, Inc., P. O. Box 536, Wilmington, MA 01887 or to the New England Donor Services, 60 First Avenue, Waltham, MA 02451, with whom his family worked with to successfully donate several of Gene's organs.  

To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit our website at www.nicholsfuneralhome.com