CHARLES K. RYCHENER, 1948-2004

Former Archbold mayor enjoyed woodworking

ARCHBOLD, Ohio - Charles K. "Chuck" Rychener, 55, a former mayor here and an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, died of complications from cancer on Thursday in the Fulton County Health Center, Wauseon.

Mr. Rychener was mayor of Archbold from 1992 to 1999, during which time he was instrumental in the expansion of the Archbold Industrial Park, reconstruction of South Defiance Street, land purchase for the expansion of the Archbold reservoir system, and building the Clyde's Way underpass and the Archbold interchange of the Ohio Turnpike.

In a 1995 interview with The Blade, Mr. Rychener, who was just re-elected to his second three-year term as mayor, said he would devote his energies to supporting industry and growth, doing it "in a way that it protects the village from some of the pitfalls of growth. I think we have to do it in a disciplined and managed way."

He was a village councilman in 1990 and 1991.

"The things that he loved were the Lord and the people," said his wife of nearly 35 years, Pamela Rychener. "He felt it was an honor to serve the community, and he loved the community he lived in."

A Wauseon native, Mr. Rychener graduated from Pettisville High School in 1966 and later that year entered Bowling Green State University. During his sophomore year in 1968, he was drafted into the Army. In November of that year, he was sent to Vietnam, where he was burned by napalm when hit by friendly fire in March, 1969.

After recovering from his wounds, Mr. Rychener served at Fort Knox, Ky., until he was honorably discharged in 1970 with a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

Once back in Ohio, he resumed his studies at BGSU, where he graduated in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

He was in charge of human resources at Sauder Woodworking Co. and later at Sonit Systems, a computer software company. Both firms are in Archbold. Since January, he was with DynaCal in Archbold, selling computer-calendar software.

In his free time, Mr. Rychener enjoyed woodworking and watching football games.

Mr. Rychener was a member of Pettisville Missionary Church and the American Legion B.L.W. Post 311. He was a former member of the Archbold Rotary Club and the Archbold Chamber of Commerce.

Surviving are his wife, Pamela; sons, Matthew and Joshua; daughter, Rebekah Moser; mother, Dorothy; brothers, Jim, Jack, and Fred, and a grandson.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in Pettisville Missionary Church, where the body will be after 2 p.m. Sunday. Arrangements are by the Short Funeral Home, Archbold.

The family suggests tributes to the Sara's Garden hyperbaric treatment center in Wauseon.