Rev. Philip Stephan Sickler, a Longtime rea Resident, Dies at 70

Rev. Philip Stephan Sickler was called home to be with the Lord on November 4, 2017. Born on June 5, 1947 in Kingston, New York, Rev. Sickler is the son of Philip and Florence Sickler of Highland Falls, New York. He is survived by both of his parents, his wife Beverly J. Williams Sickler, his daughters Jennifer and Rebecca, a granddaughter Abigail Whittington, and sisters Barbara Manzo and Cathy Siemer.

Steve, as he was known by, graduated from Highland Falls High School in 1964 and earned a BA degree in Political Science and a Masters of Education from the University of Buffalo. While a college student, he was President of the Wesley Foundation at Buffalo. Following graduation, he became Director of the Ontario Street Youth Center and taught Social Studies and English in the Buffalo Public Schools. During this time, he and his wife Beverly organized "His Place", a Christian coffee house ministry in the Riverside section of Buffalo. While earning his Masters of Divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary outside Philadelphia, he served as Minister of Youth and Evangelism at Olney Presbyterian Church. He was ordained to the ministry in the Reformed Church in America and served the Hope Reformed Church in Clifton, New Jersey and the Arlington Reformed Church in Poughkeepsie, New York. For many years he operated his own dry wall construction business in Ulster County. Rev. Sickler was a lifelong student of politics and government and served as Town Supervisor of the Town of Esopus. He set aside active involvement in politics for the higher calling of Christian ministry. He has enjoyed teaching, reading, writing, travel and above all communicating the Good News of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. At the time of his death he was serving as an Elder at the Reformed Church of Port Ewen and as First Vice President of the Klyne Esopus Museum. Rev. and Mrs. Sickler met as college students while working in the Administration Building in Bear Mountain State Park and married in 1970. Collaborating in government, business and church, fulfilled the dictum "and the two shall become one."

Entrusted to the care of Keyser Funeral & Cremation Service, Port Ewen, NY. The Memorial Service will be held at the Reformed Church of Port Ewen, 160 Salem Street, Port Ewen, NY 12466 on Thursday November 9, 2017 at 11am. Inurnment will follow in Riverview Cemetery, Port Ewen. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan's Purse at wwww.samaritanspurse.org. To leave an expression of sympathy, please visit www.KeyserFuneralService.com