Obituary-THE SHERIDAN PRESS-December 7, 2000
 

      William Dillon "Bill" Redle passed away at his home on December 5,
2000.  He was born May 12, 1914 in Sheridan, Wyoming, to Frank Sales Redle
and Marion Mooney Redle.  He attended Holy Name School and graduated from
Sheridan High School in May 1930.  He attended Creighton University and
graduated from the School of Law in June, 1938, and was admitted to the
Practice of Law in September 1938.  He practiced law in Sheridan for 55
years, retiring in July 1993.

    He married Ruth Rita Postlewait in Independence, Missouri, on
October 3, 1939 and was her devoted husband for 61 years.  He was the
beloved father of Maurita Redle Meehan.

     Mr Redle served as President of the Sheridan County Bar Association,
District Bar Commissioner, was a member of the Wyoming State Bar
Association and the American Bar Association.  He also served for a number
of years as Chairman of the Wyoming section of the America College of
Probate Counsel.

    Bill became interested in youth at an early age and upon graduating
from Sheridan High School in 1930, became the first coach of Holy Name
School and also a scoutmaster for Troop #108, and the leader of the
Friendly Indian Tribe sponsored by Holy Name Church.  Upon returning to
Sheridan in September, 1938, he immediately became associated with the
Community Boys Work, now known as Youth, Incorporated, and served as
president of Community Boys Work for several years.  He was one of the
original incorporates of that organization which now sponsors the
Thorne-Rider Youth Camp at Story, and the Poulson-Griffith Youth Camp west
of Sheridan.

    Bill began coaching Holy Name School in August, 1931, and after
graduating from college, resumed his coaching affiliation at Holy Name
School in the fall of 1938, and continued to be the football and basketball
coach until 1960.  The Holy Name School Gymnasium was dedicated in his
honor and named the Bill Redle Gym on November 19, 1999.

     Mr. Redle served on the Board of Trustees of the Whitney Benefits
Foundation for 17 years and was currently president of the B.F. and Rose H.
Perkins Foundation, Assistant Secretary -Manager of The Thorne-Rider
Foundation, Secretary-Manager of The Vernon S. and Rowena W. Griffith
Foundation, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Youth, Incorporated,
and assisted with The Edward J. Redle Memorial Fund.  He was responsible
for setting up The Dodd and Dorothy L. Bryan Foundation, which makes
interest-free loans to the youth of Sheridan, Johnson and Campbell Counties
in Wyoming and counties of Big Horn, Rosebud and Powder River of the State
of Montana.  He was the Municipal Judge for the City of Sheridan from 1939
until January, 1950.  He also served as a member of the Board of America
Red Cross and served as Chairman of the Salvation Army Board some years
ago.  He helped to organize what is known as the Sheridan Athletic
Association in 1949, which sponsors the activities of the Thorne-Rider
Baseball Park, and continued to serve as president of that association
since that date.

     Mr. Redle served two terms as a Director of the Sheridan Chamber of
Commerce and two terms as a Director of the Junior Chamber of Commerce.  He
received the first Distinguished Service Award offered by the Junior
Chamber of Commerce.  Bill was also the first recipient of the
Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Contributions to Parks and
Recreation in Sheridan from the Sheridan Recreation district in 1987.

    Bill was a member of Holy Name Church his entire life and for many
years served as a Trustee of Holy Name Church.  He helped establish the
Holy Name Foundation in 1982 and served as Secretary since its
inception.  He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Sheridan
Council 2104.

    Mr. Redle was selected for a number of honors during his
lifetime.  These included being a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, which is the
highest award one can receive from a Jesuit College; received the first
award from the Wyoming State Bar Association for Community Service in 1990;
received the Award established as the "Outstanding Good Citizen" when
Sheridan celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1982, received the
Ecclesiastic Award from the Vatican, which was presented to him by Bishop
Joseph Hart of the Diocese of Cheyenne on April 30, 1994 at Holy Name
Church, named the "Outstanding Man of the Year" recipient by The Sheridan
Press on December 31, 1994; received an Honorary Degree from Sheridan
College in May, 1995; and had the Bill Redle Gym named in honor on November
19, 1999.

    Bill wrote this message to be included in his obituary.  "I take this
opportunity to thank all of the people of this area who have been
supportive of me or any member of my family these past years.  I enjoyed my
many years in the law practice and enjoyed  my many friends throughout
those years.  It was my pleasure to do what I could to serve the community
of Sheridan and to help it prosper and to assist the youth of Sheridan and
surrounding communities to fulfill their dreams and furthering their
education."

    His interests were primarily his family and friends and to Holy Name
Church and School.  He was devoted to his Labrador retrievers, loved to
golf, hunt, play cards, and be involved with the youth of the
community.  He also loved his involvement in the many boards and
foundations that he represented.

    He is survived by this loving wife, Ruth, and daughter, Maurita and
husband Patrick Meehan, and grandchildren Kathleen Meehan Murphy, husband
Mark and daugthers Molly and Emma Ruth; Maureen Meehan Aplin, husband Tom
and children Chase and Allison; Michael Meehan, wife Debra and sons Patrick
and Colin, and Michelle Meehan Greer and husband Stuart.  He is also
serviced by his brothers Frank Redle of Torrington, WY and Dave Redle of
Akron, OH., a sister Marion Kuzma of Billings, and numerous nieces and
nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter,
Kathleen Anne Redle, brothers Austin and Edward and a sister, Sister Mary
Jude (Rosal) Redle.

    Rosary services will be held at 7:00 pm on Friday December 8, 2000 at
Holy Name Church.  A Funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 am on Saturday,
December 9, 2000 at Holy Name Church with Monsignor Eugene Sullivan
officiating.  Interment will follow in the Sheridan Municipal
Cemetery.  Kane Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

    In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you send any donations to
The Holy Name School Foundation in care of John B. Destefano, 1555 S.
Thurmond; The Edward J. Redle Memorial Fund, in care of Peter C. Carroll,
14 Country Estates Drive; or the Mini Bus Service in c/o The Senior Citizen
Center, 211 Smith Street.

Ruth Redle

Ruth Rita Postlewait Redle, 86, of Sheridan died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2001, in Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County. Rosary services will be 7 p.m. Friday at Kane Funeral Home. Mass will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Holy Name Catholic Church with Monsignor Eugene Sullivan officiating. Interment will be in the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. Mrs. Redle was born Oct. 5, 1914, in Independence, Mo., to Gilbert Gear and Nellie Herson Postlewait. She was a 1932 graduate of Saint Mary’s Academy in Leavenworth, Kan., and attended Kansas City College two years. She continued her education studying voice at Cranston School of Music in Kansas City, Mo. She married William D. Redle Oct. 3, 1938, in Independence. They moved to Sheridan. Mrs. Redle volunteered at Holy Name School for many years and helped Mr. Redle schedule accommodations and entertain visiting athletic teams. She taught seventh- and eighth-grade gym classes at Holy Name for many years. She was a lifetime member of the Auxiliary Board of Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County and for many years was in charge of Christmas decorating at the hospital. She also volunteered at the reception desk. Her performance in the lead role of the 1952 Civic Theater Guild production, “The Pleasure of his Company,” helped earn the Guild’s Best Actress Award that year. She also was a past grand prize winner in the Cowbelles’ Cook-off competition. She enjoyed needlework, reading, cooking, flowers and gardening. She was preceded in death by her husband on Dec. 5; and by an infant daughter, Kathleen, and two brothers, James and Robert Postlewait. Survivors include a daughter, Maurita Meehan of Sheridan; a sister, Sister Maurita Postlewait of Leavenworth; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Holy Name Catholic School Foundation or the Dog and Cat Shelter Building Fund in care of Delphine Toner, First Interstate Bank, P.O. Box 2007, Sheridan, WY 82801.