Capt. Richard C. "Dick" Henseler, Sc, Usn (Ret.)

Richard C. "Dick" Henseler, 82, of Carlisle, passed away on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 after a three year battle with cancer.
He was born on March 30, 1933 in Peoria, IL to the late Alexander and Marcella Ary Henseler.
Dick was a graduate of St. Mary's Elementary School and Canton High School in Canton, IL. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating with the class of 1955. His first assignment was the Navy Supply Corps in Athens, GA. His next two assignments were aboard the U.S. Rankin (AK 20) for Disbursing Officer and the U.S.S. Joseph K. Tausig (DE 1030) as Supply Officer. He was then drafted by Admiral Hyman Rickover to be a Budget Officer at the Naval Reactors Branch of the Atomic Energy Commission at Germantown, MD. Two years later, he was sent to the Plant Apparatus Division of Westinghouse in Wilkinsburg, PA to oversee the producing of components for nuclear submarines. While on this tour, he married Kathleen Bashe at St. Mary of the Woods Church in Indiana. They had met while both were serving in the Navy at the Atomic Energy Commission. His next assignment was to the Naval Supply Depot at Great Lakes, IL. From there, he went to Harvard Business School. He graduated with the class of 1966 with an MBA. Dick's next assignments was to the Commander, Service Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor as Budget Officer for the ships in that command. Next he was sent to the Navy Ships Parts Control Center in Mechanicsburg, PA, where he was responsible for the design and development of the Conventional Ammunition Inventory Management System. For this achievement he was awarded his first Navy Commendation Medal. He was next assigned to the USS Holland (AS 32) in Rota, Spain as the Supply Officer for Nuclear Submarines in that area. For that effort he was awarded his second Commendation Medal. His next assignment was to the Pentagon as a Staff Officer in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Following that tour, Dick was assigned to the Fleet Material Support Office in Mechanicsburg, PA as Comptroller. One year later, he was promoted to Captain. He retired from the Navy on August 30, 1977 after 26 years of service. After his naval retirement, he became Executive Vice President of Sea Wheels, Inc., based in Carlisle, PA and retired from there after seven years.
At that point, Dick increased his involvement in volunteer service in the Carlisle area. He served on the Board of Directors of Safe Harbor and he and his wife, Katie, helped to establish Project Share by donating a warehouse. Dick also spent several years on the Board of the Amelia Givens Library in Mt. Holly Springs and several years on the Board of the Cumberland County Library System. Dick was very active in St. Patrick Parish as an Ecumenical minister in 1973. He conducted two very successful fund campaigns-one to build a new school in 1986 at the parish site on Marsh Drive, and the second to double the size of the school in 1994. He was appointed President of the Parish Council to pave the way for the new school. Dick also served for several years as Chairman of the Finance Committee of Diocesan School Board in Harrisburg.
Dick enjoyed playing tennis, gardening and crafting with stained glass. He was an all-around handyman, skilled in home and machinery repairs, Most of all, he enjoyed the company of his many friends. Dick's family was his top priority, readily giving them his loving support and encouragement. They will deeply miss their "Papa". May he rest in peace in union with his Heavenly Father.
Dick is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Katie; his children, Rachel Collins of AZ, Karen Devor (and husband Thomas) of PA, Martha Vahanian (and husband Manny) of GA and Joseph Henseler (and wife Lorena) of CA; his grandchildren, Meagan and Ryan Malesic, Andrew, Samuel and Peter Vahanian and Lucas Henseler; his siblings, A.J. Henseler, Jr. of IL, Victoria Kuntzman (and husband Robert) of IL, Rev. Thomas Henseler of IL, Mary Murray of IUL, Patricia Florey (and husband George) of PA and Alice Henseler of IL; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Phillip and John.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 8, 2015 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 85 Marsh Drive with the Very Reverend William C. Forrey and Rev. Thomas Henseler officiating. Interment will be at St. Patrick Cemetery, McClures Gap Road, Carlisle at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 with full military honors. There will be viewing at Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 219 N. Hanover Street, Carlisle on Sunday, June 7, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The Recitation of the Rosary will be said at 8:00 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made St. Mary's School, 408 W. Washington St., Mt. Sterling, IL 62353, St. Patrick Catholic School, 85 Marsh Drive, Carlisle, PA 17015, Safe Harbor, 102 W. High Street, Carlisle, PA 17013 or Amelia S. Given Free Library, 114 N. Baltimore Avenue, Mt. Holly Springs, PA 17065.
To sign the guestbook, please visit www.hoffmanroth.com