Thompson– Ernest G. Rizel, 84, of Buck Hill Road, died Sunday April 23, 2006 in Barre, MA. He was the husband of the late Julia J. (Malakauskas) Rizel. Born in East Hampton, MA, he was the son of the late John and Annie (Kabilda) Rizel.
Raised in Brocton and West Bridgewater, he was a 1940 graduate of Howard High School. He was a WWII Army Air Corps Veteran serving as an aerial engineer on a B17 flying fortress for 35 combat missions before his Honorable Discharge in 1945. He was awarded the Air Medal with 6 oak leaf clusters, a Presidential Citation, and Battle ribbons for Normandy, the Rhineland and Southern France.
He attended Moorhead State College and graduated with his bachelor’s degree from Upsala College in 1948. He went on to earn his Masters of Education from Bridgewater State teachers College. He was a teacher for Tourtellotte Memorial High school for 20 years. He also taught in Colrain and Wrentham, MA. After he retired from teaching, he worked as aerial mapper for the Velwation Association of Canterbury, CT.
He was a life member of the Connecticut Teachers Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion. He served as treasurer for the East Thompson Fire Department and was a member of the Northeastern Connecticut Farm Bureau, Winitisset Grange, Northeastern Police Association and the Southern Massachusetts Police Association. He also served on the Thompson Zoning Board of Appeals and as a Constable for the Town of Thompson.
He is survived by a special friend Eleanor Long, a nephew and several cousins.
A funeral with military honors will be held Friday at 9 am in the Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., North Grosvenordale, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am in St. Joseph’s Church. Burial will be in East Thompson Cemetery. Visiting hours are Thursday from 4-7 pm. In lieu off flowers, donations may be made to East Thompson Fire department, PO Box 271, Thompson, CT 06277 or the Community Fire Company, PO Box 874, N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255.
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