Albert Walter Recher Jr.

Albert (Al) Walter Recher, Jr. passed away on February 19, 2021 at the age of 93 due to complications after contracting COVID. Al was born on March 20, 1927 in Oelwein, Iowa. A longtime resident of Rancho Palos Verdes, California and Palm Desert, California, Al passed away at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California. Al served in the military from 1945-1947 in the Army Air Corp as a German/English interpreter since he was fluent in German. Al graduated from the University of Illinois in 1950 with a degree in Accounting. Al married Evelyn Beatrice Bidne of Decorah, Iowa in January 1953 in Dallas, Texas. She preceded him in death in 2011 after 58 years of marriage. Besides Evelyn, preceding Al in passing were his parents Albert W. Recher Sr. 1963, originally of Ziefin, Switzerland and then Oelwein, Iowa; and Katherine S. Beile Recher 1947, originally of Pirmasens, Germany and then Oelwein, Iowa; his sister Elizabeth Recher Kunkle of Oelwein, Iowa and brother-in-law Dale Schuchmann, of Oelwein, Iowa. Al and Evelyn initially made the Midwest home where Al held various accounting positions at Ford and Chrysler. They came to southern California in the mid-1950s. Al retired from the KERR Glass group in the Los Angeles area as their CFO, Vice-President and Controller. Throughout his working life Al was very successful. He continued to move up through his knowledge and experience. Even with his success he always had time, and helped others with advice and guidance. They moved full time to the Coachella Valley in the mid-1990s. Al loved his wife, family and friends. He enjoyed outdoor activities including hiking, biking, swimming, tennis and pickleball. Al put together his hiking trail books with photos he had taken describing the hikes. Those photo books were given to and located in the Rancho Mirage Public Library. He and Evelyn loved to travel. They were fortunate enough to travel throughout the United States as well as in Europe. Al was an extremely social person. When he and Evelyn went out you would and could always look around to see Al talking and socializing with others. In his socializing he loved to meet new people and ask a lot of questions. He loved to continually learn new things. He and Evelyn were extremely active members in their church, Hope Lutheran in Palm Desert, California as well as their previous church St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. His favorite scripture was John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God is getting one of the good ones back. Al is survived by his sister Mary Schuchmann of Oelwein, Iowa; his daughter Brenda Baker and son-in-law Roger Baker of Tucson, Arizona; and his granddaughter Sarah Baker of Omaha, Nebraska. Also surviving Al are: nephew Kurt Schuchmann of Oelwein, Iowa; his nieces Martha Kunkle of Carlise, Iowa; Mary Scribner of Ocala, Florida; Ann Nixon of Burlington, Vermont; Carol Lynch of Pocasset, Massachusetts; Gretchen Kumar of Holmdel, New Jersey; and Elise Gotay of GreenAcres, Florida. There will be a private memorial for Al. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in his name to one of his favorite charities/organizations such as The Living Desert, Hope Lutheran Church in Palm Desert or Martha's Kitchen. In addition, remembrances of Al can be submitted at Tributes.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Cathedral City, California. May he be reunited with previous loved ones and rest in peace.