Richard Joseph Celik

Richard Joseph Celik passed away on Sunday April 7, 2024 two days shy of his 83rd birthday. He was born on April 9, 1941 to Joseph Celik and Anna Pascarella Celik.

Rich grew up in Lake Carmel NY and graduated from Carmel High School in 1959. He married his high school sweetheart Diana Brewster in 1960. He served in the US Navy from 1959 to 1964. For a short time he worked at Hunt Country Furniture and still hand crafted furniture into his 80s. Rich went on to become a well known Taxidermist in Putnam County NY for his exceptional artistic talent of making hunter’s and fisherman’s trophies come to life. He was also an entrepreneur and holds patents on self designed hunting equipment. He loved to be out in the woods in the fresh air, checking out wildlife, beautiful landscapes, mountain views and hopefully catching a stellar sunset.

He is survived by his brother Donald Celik, his son Clinton Celik, his daughter Susan Celik Ricca. He was affectionately called Pa Moose, and best Easter egg hider ever, by his seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. His big hugs and booming “howdy howdy“ will be terribly missed by his family, friends and his family of close neighbors. Even if you only met Rich once, you could tell he was truly one of a kind.

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