Rikal

Rudolf "Rudy" Rikal, 97, of Trieste, Italy, and formerly of Butler, died May 1 in Italy.

He was born April 11, 1913, in East St. Louis, Ill., a son of the late Josef and Catherine Luptak Rikal.

Mr. Rikal was a retired sales representative for the Texas Refining Corp. and had been based in Italy.

He was a resident of Butler for more than 30 years and was an early importer of automobiles, including the Hillman Minx and the MG. He owned and operated Rikal Auto Sales in Butler from 1946 through 1959 and sold Hudson and Austin autos.

Rudy also was a published author. After driving more than a million miles over 45 years in the United States and Europe without a major accident, he wrote his book, "How to Drive and Survive," and published it in 1977.

His wife, Verena Halter Rikal, survives him. His first wife, Anna E. Daniels Rikal, preceded him in death in 1974.

Also surviving are a daughter and her husband, Rosalie C. and Gary Cooper of Butler; and a stepdaughter, Mrs. Kurt (Regula) Schibli of Switzerland. Eight grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, a step-great-grandchild and a great-great-grandson also survive him.

A son, three brothers and three sisters preceded him in death.

<B>RIKAL</B> — Cremation took place in Italy. Friends and family of Rudolf "Rudy" Rikal, who died Saturday, May 1, 2010, will gather from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, May 14, at the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler. Funeral services will follow at noon with the Rev. James Dollhopf, pastor of the First English Lutheran Church, officiating. Inurnment will take place at the Calvary Cemetery.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.