Frederick George Stickel, IV “Rick”, age 83, of Great Meadows, NJ, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, May 2, 2026.

Born on November 6, 1942, in Glen Ridge, NJ, Rick was the son of the late Frederick George Stickel, III and Elizabeth (Hunt) Stickel. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters Jane Slater, Elizabeth Miller, and Kathryn Casey, as well as his son‑in‑law Jeffery Stokem.

Rick loved his family above all else and treasured every moment spent together. He found deep peace in the outdoors—whether fishing, watching wildlife, or simply enjoying the quiet beauty of nature. He had a lifelong affection for the music of Elvis Presley and took joy in feeding birds and other animals around his home. Rick will be remembered for his warm heart, kind spirit, generosity, and patience. He had a gift for storytelling and could captivate anyone with memories from his life. His presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Rick is survived by his beloved wife, Joan Carol (Koch) Stickel; his daughters, Jerilyn Stokem and Cherilyn Kathenes and her husband Matthew; and his sister, Virginia Chesney. He was a proud grandfather to Tori Corcoran and her husband Andrew, Kyle Kathenes and his wife Alyssa, Nicholas Stokem, and Jason Stokem. He also leaves behind three great‑grandchildren who brought him tremendous joy: Callie Corcoran, Hannah Corcoran, and Owen Paul Kathenes.

A funeral service will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, at Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ.

A memorial visitation will take place the same day, Wednesday, May 6, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., also at Cochran Funeral Home.

For those wishing to honor Rick’s memory, donations may be made to the Orphaned Wildlife Center in his name.

http://orphanedwildlife.org/?fbclid=IwVERDUARkU0BleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe9HhGwOdDNKgkfNL273pAoYjA8npfoBEQ7r7Rn1apXLZfQQPlyvjbcT-2S7c_aem_wpRJBeLAe4Gyf5YTbNQ4HA