George Joseph Rieder Sr., 78, of New Bern, North Carolina, died peacefully on February 10, 2015, at his home.
He was predeceased by his parents Bernard and Mary Rieder and his brother Bernard Rieder. He is survived by his wife of 39 years Patricia (a.k.a. Honey); five children, Michelle Hickman (Mark) of Hubert, North Carolina; Donna Sacilowski of Summerville, Sourth Carolina; Margaret Rose Rieder of Charleston, South Carolina; Kathleen Rieder (Jeff) of Charleston and George Rieder Jr. of Gloucester City, New Jersey; five grandchildren, Shannon Roman (Jared) of Okinawa, Japan; Jennifer Thompson of Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Matthew Sacilowski of Summerville, South Carolina; Annie Sacilowski of Summerville, South Carolina; and Candice Harrington of New Bern, North Carolina; four great grandchildren, Tristan Thompson, Denissa Roman, Carrington Roman and Mark Benjamin Roman, nephew Brian Rieder (Sari) of Lake Worth, Florida, and Princess Mandy Rieder.
He served the firefighting service for 50 years. His career began in Gloucester City, New Jersey, as a firefighter. He served as the fire chief for the Bartlett (TN) Fire Department in the 1980s. He expanded his service to nuclear firefighting with the Tennessee Valley Authority as fire chief and later project coordinator at the Sequoia Nuclear Plant. After retiring from Tennessee Valley Authority, he established his own company, Southern Emergency Products fire trucks sales, representing Central States, and General Safety, now known as Rosenbauer, Lyons, South Dakoa.
He always felt he never worked a day in his life because he was doing what he loved.
He was loved and respected by many throughout the fire service. He will always be loved and remembered for many years to come.
The Rieder family will receive friends from 6-8:00 pm Saturday, February 14, 2015, at Cotten Funeral Home, 2201 Neuse Blvd, New Bern, NC 28560. A funeral service for George will be held at Cotten Funeral Home, Sunday, February 15, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. followed by a reception at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in George’s honor to National Fallen Firefighters Foundation PO Drawer 498, Emmitsburg, MD 21727 and or Ruth’s Chapel FWB 2709 Oaks Rd, New Bern, NC 28560.
Arrangements by Cotten Funeral Home and Crematory
Online condolences can be made at www.cottenfuneralhome.com
