William G. 'Bill' Voelkel, Longtime Teacher At Bayville Elementary School, 9-11 Responder, Dies At 74

Courtesy of O'Brien Funeral Home

William G. "Bill" Voelkel of Wall Township passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune. He was 74.

Bill was born and raised in Union City and had resided in Point Pleasant before moving to Wall Township in 1978. He was a USMC Reserve and went on to graduate from Monmouth College. Bill was a 9/11 Responder to the terrorist attack in New York City.

He was a teacher at the Bayville Elementary School for 34 years before retiring. He was also a member of the Monmouth County Retired Educators Association and the NJEA.

Following his retirement, he began his second "career" as the Director of EMS Education at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune. He was the Task Force Coordinator for the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management. He was a member of the Wall Twp. First Aid and Rescue Squad, serving as a Captain and recently became a lifetime member. He had been a lifeguard for over 30 years at Risden's Beach and continued to train the guards in first aid until the time of his death.

Despite all of Bill's volunteer service, he and his beloved wife were avid travelers who had visited five of the seven continents.

William was predeceased by his parents William F. and Marion C. Campen Voelkel.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 48 years, Mary Pichirallo Voelkel, his two daughters and their spouses, Melissa Anne and Bob Dyer of Spring Hill, Fla., and Heather Allison and Troy Edwards of Bedford, Tx., his four grandchildren Emily, Allison, James and Isabella, his mother-in- law Jessie Pichirallo of Brick and his sister-in-law Susan and her husband James Deitz of Point Pleasant Beach.

Visitation will be on Friday from 4 pm. to 8 p.m. at the O'Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Route 35 at New Bedford Rd., Wall. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9 a.m. on Aug. 19 at St. Catharine's RC Church, 215 Essex Ave., in Spring Lake. Please go directly to the church on Saturday as there will not be a procession from the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family specifically requests donations be made to a charity of your choice in memory of William Voelkel.

For directions or to offer online condolences to the family please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com.

Photo: Patch file photo