Everett Roy "Sam" Stickel, 91, passed away early Saturday morning, Nov. 28, 2015, at his residence on Church Road in Princeton.

Mr. Stickel was born Nov. 2, 1924, at the family homestead on Trusel Road near Rose Point, Pa., to the late Lee Sheridan Stickel and M. Edith Stoner Stickel Gongaware.

Sam is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years Nancy Ann (DiLorenzo) Stickel. They were married June 19, 1948, at St. Vitus rectory by the Rev. Albert Inteso. The two resided in their entire married life in the Princeton area.

In addition, he is also survived by three of his four children and their families. Survivors include Susan L. (Stickel) Arnett of Princeton and her daughter, Jennifer L. Arnett, and Edwin L. Cracraft III of Princeton, and their son, Lance Cpl. Edwin L. Cracraft IV of Camp Lejeune, N.C. Samuel David Stickel and wife, Roseanne (Sibeto) Stickel, and their five children, Rachael (Stickel) Lombardo and husband, Leonard Lombardo, and their children Abigail, Alexis and Ariana, all of Shenango Township; Erica Stickel of New Hampshire; Samuel J. Stickel and wife, Linsey (Allison) Stickel, of Pulaski; Nancy A. Stickel of Shenango Township; and Michael J. Stickel, also of Shenango Township. Catherine A. (Stickel) Rowe Einsporn and husband, Tom Einsporn, of Slippery Rock Township and her son, Stephan T. Rowe, and wife, Melissa (Bornemann) Rowe, of Pitcairn, Pa. He is also survived by one sister, Bernice M. (Stickel) Miller, of Princeton as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and neighbors.

Mr. Stickel was preceded in death by one son, John Sheridan Stickel, in 1976; a grandson, Matthew J. Rowe, in 1999; and a granddaughter, Kathleen M. Arnett, in 2014. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, William S. Stickel, and wife, Viola (Baxter) Stickel, and Gaylord S. Stickel and wife, Iva (Gongaware) Stickel; and three sisters, Ella E. (Stickel) Majors, and husband, Boyd Majors, Ethel E (Stickel) Kline Dick and husbands, Everett "Buck" Kline and F.S. "Bud" Dick, and Cora B. (Stickel) Miller and husband, George E. Miller; brother-inlaw, Kenneth Miller; stepfather, Samuel E. Gongaware; as well as several beloved nieces and nephews.

A World War II Army veteran, Mr. Stickel served in the European Theater from 1944 to 1946 with Co. K, 357th Infantry, 90th Division. He earned the Army of Occupation Medal, Good Conduct Medal and European- African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. Sam entered the war during the Battle of the Bulge and was discharged June 28, 1946, after serving in the Occupation Forces after the war ended. He served as a guard at Nuremberg prison during the trials and assisted in the recovery of artifacts at the mines in Merkel carrying gold bars and famous paintings.

A master carpenter, Sam earned his education on the GI Bill. He worked in his early years with local contractor and friend George Morrison and then in the late 1960s with his nephew Roy Stickel in the Ohio Carpenters Union and later the Pittsburgh Local Carpenters Union.

As a child, Sam was baptized in the local German Lutheran church but became a Presbyterian and as adult serving at the Princeton Presbyterian Church as a trustee and elder.

In his retirement years, Sam served the Lord volunteering as a carpenter in Guatemala and Mexico and for Habitat for Humanity and for New Tribes Mission headquarters in Sanford, Fla. At New Covenant Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Sam served as an elder and on the building committee. Until his health failed, he enjoyed hunting at his camp near Kane, Pa.; his fruit orchard and gardening; and actively reading his Bible, Western and historical fiction novels. Sam was happiest when busy and outdoors.

Visitation will be held 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home in New Castle and 10 a.m. Wednesday until the memorial service at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday with Pastor Chris Curtis officiating.

Burial will be at Pleasant Valley Cemetery.

Military rites will be performed by the New Castle Honor Guard on Tuesday evening following visitation.