Obituary of Thomas Clifford Recktenwald I

Wayland – Thomas Clifford Recktenwald I, 87 years of age, passed away Monday evening, February 24, 2025 at FF Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua. Tom was born February 7, 1938 in Perkinsville the son of Walter A. and Bertha M. (Bricks) Recktenwald. He grew up in Perkinsville and graduated from Dansville Central School in 1957. On October 14, 1961 Tom and Jean Schneider were married at St. Pius Church in Cohocton and celebrated over 63 years of marriage. They moved to Wayland once they were married and have remained there ever since. Tom’s employment spanned many different areas, including Foster Wheeler, Wayland Police Department, Lindsey’s Gas Station, Evans Vending, The Gunlocke Company, and Coca Cola. For over 30 years Tom was a Town and Village Justice. He was very proud of his position, took it seriously and he tried to help many throughout the years. His hobbies were many as well. Tom was a basketball coach at St. Joseph’s School; led BINGO at St. Joseph’s for over 10 years; taught the Hunters Safety course, a bird watcher; Christmas Tree Farmer; and most recently a You Tube fan on his IPAD. Throughout the years he enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing cards with family and friends, baking Christmas Cookies and of course who could forget telling stories. His sense of humor was sharp and his ability to argue just to argue was known by many. Tom’s faith to the Catholic Religion and God was deep. He believed and prayed and lived his life convicted to his faith. He would go on annual retreats at the Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua and he achieved 4th Degree Knighthood within the Knights of Columbus. Above all mentioned so far, most important to Tom was his family. He loved his wife of 63 years; his 8 children, 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. He spoke highly of them all and was proud of each and every one. Tom was loved by many and will be dearly missed. Tom was pre-deceased by his parents, Walter and Bertha Recktenwald; his siblings, Adeline, Paul, Kenneth, William, Francis and Donald; his brothers and sisters in law, John and Eileen Schneider, Mary and Albert Weber, Frank and Vivian Schneider, Kay and DeMerle Wise, Dot and Ken Reinard, Noreen Lindsey, Ann and Mike Hamilton, Ed Schneider and Mike Schneider. Tom is survived by his wife, Jean Recktenwald of Wayland; his children, Linda (Steven) Forrest of Elmira, Theresa (Richard) Wagner of Nunda, Thomas (Kerrianne) Recktenwald of Wayland, Rebecca (Scott) Winter of Greenville, SC, Laurie (Dan) Fogle of Perkinsville, Jill Recktenwald of Wayland, Susanne Recktenwald (Doug Wilkins) of Cohocton and Janet Recktenwald of Wayland; his grandchildren, Andrew (Allison) Forrest, Jack Forrest (Nicole Dunst), Rachel (Joseph) Cloke, Timothy Forrest (Julia Plato), Nathan Forrest, Thomas “TJ” Wagner (Frances Hale), Christopher (Bonnie) Wagner, Brandy (Mike) Martin, Corey (Aurora) Folts, Alison (Andrew) Stephens; his great grandchildren, Amory, Lewis, Adeline, Norman, Winifred, Maximus, Caleb, Aiden, Brittany, Chance, Paisley, Peyton and Macie; his sister MaryAnne Didas of Churchville; his sisters and brothers in law, Joan Recktenwald, Donna Recktenwald, Geraldine Recktenwald, Elaine (James) Davis, James (Leslie) Schneider, Ronald (Dawn) Lindsey and Cassie Dennison; along with multitudes of nieces and nephews. Tom’s family and friends may call Friday February 28, 2025 from 4-7pm at St. George-Forsythe Funeral Home, 109 West Naples St., Wayland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Tom Saturday March 1, 2025 at 10am at St. Joseph’s Church, 206 Fremont St., Wayland. Committal prayers and interment will take place immediately following at St. Pius Cemetery in Cohocton. Contributions in memory of Thomas C. Recktenwald I may be made to Holy Family Catholic Community, 206 Fremont St., Wayland, NY 14572.