Willard Allen "Al" Ryckman, Jr., age 71, of Greensboro passed away at Moses Cone Hospital on Wednesday, November 30, 2011.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday December 3, 2011 at Forbis & Dick N. Elm Chapel in Greensboro, NC. Interment will immediately follow at Lakeview Memorial Park.
Al Ryckman was born October 2, 1940 in Kalkaska MI. He served his country in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne, and was a graduate of Central Michigan University. Al started his working career as a teacher in High Point, then became a policeman in Greensboro but spent most of his working life as an executive with the Exxon Corporation. Al also loved sports starting with high school football, but was best known for his love of and skill at basketball. He was most proud of his time spent with the Kalkaska Independent Basketball Team, and his time touring Germany while playing for the U.S. Army. In later years, Al was an avid runner, competing in numerous running competitions throughout the eastern United States.
He is survived by his loving wife Rebecca Smith Ryckman, son Jefferson Ryckman and wife Amy, daughter Shannon McDonald and husband Peter, father Willard Ryckman, brothers Ronald Ryckman and Doug Ryckman, sister Mary Sue Ryckman, and grandchildren Nicholas Ryckman, Abigail Ryckman, Elijah Ryckman, Jefferson McDonald, Michael McDonald, Rebecca McDonald, Joseph McDonald, Matthew McDonald, Philip McDonald, Paul McDonald and James McDonald. He was preceded in death by his mother Maxine Ryckman and brother Jim Ryckman.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday December 2 at Forbis & Dick N. Elm St. Chapel. Donations in his memory be made to the American Stroke Foundation, 5960 Dearborn, Mission, KS 66202
