Walter Michael "Mickey" Cereoli
Walter Michael "Mickey" Cereoli, age 64 of Richwood, died Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at home surrounded by his loving family, following a courageous battle with Multiple Myeloma. He was born July 21, 1947 in Rockville Center, NY to the late Ronald Valentine and Olive Jane (Vogel) Cereoli.
On November 16, 1986 he married the former Leanna Moyer in Gun Barrel City, Texas and she survives in Richwood.
He was a graduate of Bethpage High School in New York. He worked sales and service since June 1988 for Bomag Americas, which is a landfill and compactor company based in Kewanee, Illinois. His territory was North and South America, and he also made many trips to Europe. He was a U. S. Navy in-country veteran serving in Vietnam with the MCB-1. Mickey had a vast collection of Vietnam War artifacts which he used to educate over 25,000 high school students in the area. He also counseled many war veterans returning home. He was a life member and Commander of VFW Post 3313, Marion; American Legion Post 584, Marion; Endowed Member of Mt. Carmel Lodge 303 F&AM, Richwood; Moose Lodge 889, Marion; and the Harley Owners Group.
Besides his wife, he is survived by children, Cassandra (David) Stone, Richwood; Maria Cereoli Combs, Richwood; David Yates, Richwood; “chosen son”, Thomas (Krista) Hinkle, Ulversheim, Germany; estranged sons, Ron Cereoli, John Cereoli and Donnie Tanner; 11 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, a brother, Jackson (Maryann) Cereoli, Bethpage, NY and their son Chris, Billy and Mathew; “chosen brother”, Stephen (Linda) Petty, Ludlow, Vermont; “office wife”, Debbie (Ron) Root, Galva, Illinois; nephews, John (Kristen) Moyer, Texas; Mike and Morgan Rychel, Michigan; and adopted nephew, Mathew J. Marvin, Richwood. He was preceded in death by his ex-father-in-law, Larry A. Culp.
Friends may call from 2 to 5 PM on Sunday at the Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home, Richwood where a Masonic Service will be conducted by Mt. Carmel Lodge at 5:00 PM followed by military honors provided by the Richwood Area Veterans. A private family memorial service and burial will follow at a later date.
Memorial gifts may be made to REAP, 235 Grove Street, Richwood, OH 43344, Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org), 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida 32256 or to the Cereoli family to help defray expenses.
Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.stofcheck-ballinger.com
Mickey left his home for the last time wearing his boots, a Harley T-shirt and a bottle of Jaeger tucked under his arm – just the way he wanted.
Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home