William Powers Schlecht

William P. Schlecht, age 95 passed away at his Sun City residence, in the presence of

his beloved wife on May 30, 2025. William (Bill) was born in Hackettstown, NJ on March

19, 1930 to William M. and Ruth (Powers) Schlecht. After

graduating from Hackettstown High School in 1948, he

attended Lehigh University where he was enrolled in Army

ROTC, while pursuing a degree in Engineering. He

graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical

Engineering and was commissioned as a 2 nd Lt in the Army

upon his graduation in 1953. In September of 1952, he

married his beloved wife of 72 years, Ruth Treut in

Merchantville, NJ.

Bill's Army service included assignments to Ft Knox as well as

being stationed near Seoul during the drawdown of the

Korean War. After completing his service, he returned to the states, reunited with his

bride, and began his career at Bucyrus Erie in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He retired

as the head of their Test Center Division. Never content to leave his engineering

passion at the office, he amassed his own personal machine shop and tool collection,

which he used as a "hands-on" engineer. Those skills and tools were combined with his

other acquired passion in life - flying and owning his own aircraft. He ultimately

retrofitted his aircraft to be able to serve as a "camper" in addition to carrying two

motorcycles which could fold down for flight, making for the ultimate family "camping"

adventures upon landing.

After his retirement, he and Ruth moved to Wickenburg Arizona, to enjoy the desert

lifestyle. He became an active Rotarian, ushered at the Webb Center, embarked on the

hobby of blacksmithing, and enjoyed exploring the desert in a 4-wheel drive club.

Bill is survived by his wife Ruth of Sun City West; his son William (Annette) Schlecht,

and his grandson Connor (Joanna) Schlecht all of California.

Interment will be at the Wickenburg Cemetery.