All Obituaries

Frederick W. Bennicoff Jr., 89, of Kutztown, passed away Monday, July 12, 2021. He was the husband of Joyce E. (Haas) Bennicoff; they were married for 57 years. Born in Kutztown, he was the son of the late Frederick W. and Luzetta (Wessner) Bennicoff Sr. He worked for Wayne C. Wessner Grain Mill as a truck driver for many years. In addition to his wife Joyce, he is survived by sons: Timothy W. Haas of Port Clinton, Greg C. Bennicoff, husband of Amy of Kutztown; grandchildren: Julie Jane...

Douglas C. Bast, of Coplay, passed away July 3, 2021. He is survived by his parents, Gary and Deborah Bast, and his twin sister, Robin Bast. He was a graduate of Salisbury High School and Penn State University. Doug was an avid musician and percussionist. He was an active member of marching band, indoor drumline, and was section leader of the tenor drumline in the Penn State Blue Band. He was happiest with a pair of drumsticks in hand and will be remembered for his quiet sense of humor. A...

Marian M. (Bittner) Scheirer, 88, of Kutztown, passed away Tuesday, June 22, 2021. She was the wife of the late Charles E. Scheirer. Born in Weisenberg, she was the daughter of the late Charles E. and Hilda H. (Rinker) Bittner. Marian was a graduate of Parkland High School class of 1950 and was an Executive Assistant for the Vice President at Kutztown University. She was a long time member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Marian is survived by sons: Jeffery C. of Kutztown; Dr. Robert D. husband...

Terry L. Ritzman, 78, of Hamburg, passed away Wednesday, May 19, 2021. He was the husband of the late Dianne (Henninger) Ritzman. Born in Kutztown, the son of the late Scott and Florence (Fegley) Ritzman. He was a graduate of Kutztown High School and worked for Diesel Service Inc. Reading for many years. He is survived by sons: Shane S. husband of Michel of Drehersville; Darid B. husband of Diane of Kempton; daughter Denean K. Westbrook of Hamburg; one grandchild and two great grandchildren....

Lois M. Hinkel, 92, of Kutztown, passed away Wednesday, April 28, 2021. She was the wife of the late Daniel J. Hinkel. Born in Altoona, she was the daughter of the late Edward L. and Bess (Hoffman) Keller. Lois was a member of Grace Evangelical Church, Kutztown. She graduated from Altoona High School class in 1946 and Lockhaven State College in 1949 and received her Masters from Penn State. She taught at Temple University, Penn State, Lycoming College, Altoona School District as an...

The Rev. Andrew J. Stauffer, 81, passed away April 22, 2021. He was the husband of the late Sharlene “Becky” A. (Moyer) Stauffer, having last celebrated 58 years of marriage. Born in Topton, the son of the late Charles B. and Verna A. (Boyer) Stauffer. He was a 1957 graduate of Kutztown Area High School, a 1961 graduate of Muhlenberg College and a 1965 graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. As a parish pastor he served the Mt. Bethel Lutheran Parish,...

Ray “Pete” C. Peter, 83, of Kutztown passed away Tuesday, April 6, 2021. He was the husband of Susan J. (Ferguson) Peter. Born in Chapman, Lehigh County he was the son of the late Claude and Hilda (Smith) Peter.  He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for four years and retired from Kutztown University where he worked as a roofer in the maintenance department for many years. He was a member of Ziegels Lutheran Church in Breinigsville. Pete was a member...

June 6, 1956 – March 26, 2021 Diane Ruth Parker was born to Desmond R. and Margarete E. H. Parker in Oceanside, NY as their first born daughter. She was devotedly cared for by her father, mother and grandmother, Elfriede, and in her adult years in Pennsylvania by the Redco Group in Reading, PA. When Diane was a young child, her mother knew that she was special and spoke with doctors about her developmental delays. For years, her mother assumed it was due to a high fever which caused...

Dennis F. Carruth, 74, passed away from complications associated with Severe Vascular Dementia at Kutztown Manor Nursing Home, Kutztown, PA, Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Born in Los Angeles, California, February 23, 1947, he was the son of the late Ullman J. and Marie G. (Godsey) Carruth. He graduated from George C. Marshall High School, Falls Church, VA, in 1965 and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and...

Dr. Frank H. Siekmann, 95, of Kutztown, parted his life on February 17, 2021. He was an educator, musician, and composer. He taught music in public schools of Smyrna, DE; Ramsey, NJ; and Chappaqua, NY. There he was appointed as one of only two department heads. After ten years at Chappaqua he accepted a one year replacement position as Director of Bands at the University of Vermont. There he organized and directed a three-state tour including the opening date of the 1965 New York...