Rechmeler



MG Louis Rachmeler USA(Ret)


Major General Louis Rachmeler passed away peacefully on July 21, 2011 at the age of 88 in the presence of his wife Mary Lou and all his children.  Lou Rachmeler was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 16, 1923.  Beginning his military career as an enlisted man, he then entered West Point and graduated in 1947.  In the course of 34 years in the Army, he served his country in peace and in war, including an 18-month tour in Vietnam. He held positions of increasing responsibility culminating as the commanding general of the US Army Missile Command and Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

General Rachmeler’s many military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal and multiple awards of the Legion of Merit, the Air Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal.

After leaving the Army and settling in Huntsville, Alabama, he began a second career as a vice president at Nichols Research.  His service to his community continued through positions as Chairman of the Board for Volunteers of America North Alabama, Chairman of Huntsville United Way Campaign, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Randolph School,  Advisory Board Member of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of the Boy Scouts of America, and as an Elder and member of the Session of Covenant Presbyterian Church.

A lifelong advocate of education, General Rachmeler’s degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from West Point and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Stanford.  He was also a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College.

Lou Rachmeler’s abiding Christian faith in a loving God guided his thoughts and his actions throughout his life.  He attributed his accomplishments to his wife Mary Lou, the love of his life and his mainstay for sixty-one years.  He measured his success exclusively in terms of his family; they were his wealth. He did not enjoy talking about himself, but loved to tell stories about his children.  Lou and Mary Lou have two sons, Dale and Richard Rachmeler, two daughters, Cathy Vasile and Kim Rachmeler, and six treasured grandchildren.

His cremains will be interred at the United States Military Academy at West Point on August 1, 2011.  A celebration of his life will be scheduled in Naples, Florida at a later date to be determined by the family.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his honor to Army Emergency Relief (200 Stovall St, Alexandria VA, 22332-0600), the Boy Scouts of America, or a charity of your choice.

In addition to his wife and children, Lou Rachmeler is survived by his brother Dr. Martin Rachmeler of La Jolla, CA.