Arthur "Art" William Schichtel Jr.

Arthur William Schichtel, Jr., age 80 of Mesa Arizona, formally of Lockport, New York, passed away on April 19, 2014. He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on November 4, 1933. Art attended high school in North Miami Beach, Florida and earned an Associates Degree from a community college in North Miami Beach. He was happily married to his best friend, Jane Ann (Bonito) Schichtel of Lockport, New York on November 4, 1972. Together they shared 41 years of love and laughter with family and friends.

Art served eight years in the United States Navy during the Korean War and the China Conflict and he earned various awards and metals.

He retired from a career in telecommunications from Southern Bell Telephone Company and GTE Telephone company in Sanborn, New York where he held installation and management positions. After retirement he worked as a handyman and security guard at Las Palmas, and his most recent job at Harkin's Movie Theater.

Art was a member of the Lock City Glee Club, Christ Episcopal Church in Lockport, St Mark's Episcopal Church in Mesa, a member of the Shuffleboard Association and played on three Arizona shuffleboard leagues.

Art had a passion for his wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchild, and the family dog, Chachi. In his younger days he competed in roller dance competitions. He enjoyed deep sea fishing, car races, road trips, remodeling, poker, billiards (when he was able). He also enjoyed playing shuffleboard with his wife and playing Dominoes with his friends.

Art is survived by his children, Andrea (David) Tetlow of Florida, Kimberly (Neal) McDwyer of Lancaster, PA, and Michele (Schichtel) Seiler of Lockport; seven grandchildren, Joshua and Joseph Tetlow, Alexandra and Mathias McDwyer and Colin, McKayla and Cameron Seiler and his great-granddaughter, Aubrye; his sisters, Barbara Jackson, Helen Heaton; extended family Josephine Dunn, Antonia Bonito (Louis Craston), and Joseph Bonito (Sue) and several nieces and nephews.

Art was preceded in death by his infant son, Steven; parents, Arthur and Lillian Schichtel; in-laws Joseph and Angeline Bonito; and brothers-in-law Robert Dunn, Earl Jackson, and Larry Heaton.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 3, 2014 at Willowbrook Golf Course and Restaurant in Lockport and at 11:00 a.m. on May 9, 2014 in the Las Palmas Club House ballroom in Arizona.