Gail Rine Weikel

Mr. Gail Rine Weikel, 86, of Chittenden, VT, passed away peacefully on January 29, 2023.
Gail was born on July 10, 1936 to Rev. John Jefferson Weikel and Mrs. Grace Rine Weikel in Espy, Pennsylvania. Being the third son of a Lutheran Minister, Gail and his family moved many times around central Pennsylvania. As a child, he was involved in all the musical aspects of the church. After Gail graduated from Mifflinburg Area High School, he went on to study Music Education at Susquehanna University. After graduation, he started his first job training in New Orleans at a psychiatric hospital kickstarting his career as a Musical Therapist. Eventually, he went on to complete his Master's degree in Recreational Therapy from Temple University in Philadelphia.
In 1971, he married Carol Beatrice Mason (deceased 1991) and went on to have their two children, Melissa and David Weikel. He raised his family in Conyngham, PA and took them to Ocean City, NJ for summer vacations. He worked at White Haven State Institution and part time as the church organist for United Methodist Church in Hazelton, PA.
In the mid 1980s, he and Carol started a summer vacation program for people with intellectual disabilities in Ocean City, NJ. They provided trips to the beach, boardwalk, amusement rides, and other local attractions.
After their divorce in 1989, Gail moved to Morrisville, PA, working for the State of NJ Department of Recreation.
He retired in 2002 and happily moved to Chittenden, VT. He loved VT and the small town of Chittenden. He quickly met many residents as the Postmaster Relief for the Chittenden US Postal Office. He was active in the local library since he was such a voracious reader. He volunteered at the Paramount Theater as an usher and would call his kids to tell them about all the wonderful music performances he got to see, especially the operas, which were his favorites.
In his spare time, he would play with his model trains. He built many from scratch, sitting behind a magnifying glass engrossed in the tedium.
But one his favorite things about life was to visit his son in Maui, HI. Every year he would stay longer and longer, eventually coming home to VT with an epic tan and planning the next year's trip.
He was a wonderful, generous, loving father who never hesitated to make sacrifices for his children and grandchildren.
Gail is survived by his daughter, Melissa Weikel Platzer, his son, David Mason Weikel, his grandchildren, David Santiago and Sarah Platzer, and his niece, Megan Weikel.
Services will be private with the family. Thoughts and remembrances of your time with Gail are graciously requested.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Gail's memory to the Chittenden Public Library https://chittendenpubliclibrary.com/