GLOUCESTER: George F. Fincel, 73, died Monday, June 22, 2009 in the Addison Gilbert Hospital following an extended illness. He was the husband of Sandra D. “Cookie” (Lafond) Fincel.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 3, 1936, he was the son of the late Roy E. and Louise H. (Eries) Fincel. He had resided in Milwaukee and Tulsa, Oklahoma for many years before moving to Gloucester in 1980. He worked as a truck driver for twenty-five years. George served in the U.S. Marine Corp from 1954 – 1965, the U.S. Army Reserves from 1975 – 1982 and the National Guard from 1982 – 1995. He retired as a Sgt. 1st Class with thirty-one years of service to his country. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal with two stars, Marine Good Conduct Medal with three stars, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Achievement Medal with an hour glass, Army Commendation Medal, NCO Professional Device Ribbon, the Army Reserve Component Medal and the Army Overseas Ribbon with a star.
George served as the DAV State Dept. Commander from 2003 – 2004 and was a member of the DAV Chapter #10, a life member of the AMVETS Post #32 and a member of the Capt. Lester S. Wass Post #3, American Legion, the Top 3 Military Retiree Assoc., the National Order of Trash Rats and the Vittori-Rocci Post #56. He was also an honorary member of the International Dory Race Committee, a member of the North Shore Clam Diggers Camping Group and the Gloucester Cribbage Club. He was an active volunteer and VAVS at the Bedford Veterans Hospital, where he was honored for 5, 555 hours of volunteer service over the past thirteen years. He was the hospital service coordinator and van driver for the DAV and received the Patriot Award for volunteer recruitment and the President’s Call to Service Award. George was an avid camper and loved to travel extensively with his wife, Sandra. He enjoyed working in his garden and helping the elderly.
In addition to his wife seventeen years, he is survived by two daughters, Janet M. Merino of Milwaukee and Kathleen C. Fincel of Tulsa, OK, two sons, Roy F. and his wife, Julia Fincel of Big Cabin, OK and Mitchell P. and his wife, Serena Fincel and a daughter-in-law, Chong Fincel all of Cape Coral, FL, two step-children, Linda A. and her husband, Erik Strong of Gloucester and Michael J. Remeika and his companion, Daniel Middleton of Marietta, GA, fourteen grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, two sisters, Margaret and her husband, Robert Milligan and Antonia and her husband, Donald Ramczyk all of Wisconsin and many nieces, nephews and dear friends. He was also predeceased by his son, George S. Fincel, a brother Charles H. Fincel and a sister, Lucille Johnston.
His visiting hours will be held on Thursday evening in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester from 4 – 8 p.m. with joint veteran services at 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Funeral services will be privately held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Edith Nourse Rogers Veterans Hospital, c/o Voluntary Services, 200 Springs Rd., Bedford, MA 01730 or to the DAV Transportation, DAV State House, Rm. 546, Boston, MA 02133.