Obituaries

Jul 7, 2018

Nellie G. Miller, 100  passed away July 7 at the Lutheran Home at Topton. She was the widow of Russel P. Miller who died in 1976. Nellie was born in Strausstown,a daughter of the late Walter Binner and Sara Spangler. She was employed at Kutztown University working for Wood Catering, and was a member of Friedens UCC, Lenhartsville. She...

Jun 20, 2018

Jeffrey M. Van Horn 60, of Fleetwood passed away in his fathers Mertztown residence June 20th. Jeff was born in Allentown to Richard W. Van Horn and the late Jean D. nee Bieber Van Horn. Jeff was a graduate of Kutztown Area High School and was an Army veteran. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Kutztown....

May 28, 2018

Charlotte "Suzie Rhoads" Merkel, 76, formerly of Kutztown, died Monday, May 28, 2018 in The Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, where she had been a patient for over a week.  She resided at the Buehrle Center which was part of the Lutheran Home at Topton, Topton, Pa.

Born in Reading, PA, Berks County, she was the daughter of...

May 10, 2018

Jean T. McClure, 99, died on May 10th 2018 in Phoebe Allentown Care Center, Allentown, Pa. where she resided for many years. Born in 1919 on a farm near Oconee, Illinois Jean was the daughter of Mavis Price (Huttes) and Roy Ireland. She graduated from Pana High School, Pana Illinois and attended both Illinois State University and Eureka College....

May 8, 2018

Shirley L. (Mengel) Herring, 88 of Kutztown died in West Reading May 8, 2018. She was the wife of the late Donald E. Herring. She was born in Hamburg the daughter of the late Stanley and Mabel (Seyfert) Mengel.

She is survived by son Timothy S. husband of Patricia, granddaughter Natalie, great grandchildren Alex and Preston, sisters...

Apr 5, 2018

Stanley L.  “Grit” Koller 89,  Kutztown, passed away April 5th in Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown. He was the husband of Janice E. (Rhoads) Koller.  They were married for 62 years. Born in  Maxatawny Township, Grit was the son  the late Lawrence S. and Helen M. (Miller) Koller. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, and was employed by...

Apr 4, 2018

Jill A. Hersh, 61, of North Catasauqua, Pa. passed away peacefully with family by her side on Wednesday April 4th, 2018. Last month she celebrated 40 years of marriage to her husband Robert C. Hersh. She was the mother of three boys: Bryan, Corey, and Kyle. Jill was co-owner of Hersh’s Markets in Allentown and later an Avon and...

Feb 5, 2018

Margarete Eleanor Holt Parker passed away peacefully on February 5, 2018 after a brief illness at the Mosser Nursing Home, Trexlertown, PA. Born of German immigrant parents, Gustav and Elfriede Holt, in Long Beach, New York on December 2, 1930, she graduated from Long Beach High and attended the Mt. Sinai School of Nursing in New York City. Upon...

Jan 10, 2018

Beatrice A. Hollenbach 89, died January 10,in the Lutheran Home at Topton. She was the widow of Russell C. Hollenbach who died in 2016. Beatrice was born in Kutztown, a daughter of the late William and Carrie (Hoch) Lamp. She was a homemaker before residing at the Lutheran Home where she enjoyed participating in all activities, especially bingo. She...

Jan 1, 2018

Charles E. Regensburger 81,of  Topton,  died January 1, 2018 in the Lutheran Home at Topton. He was the husband of Patricia H. nee (Serdynski) Regensburger. Charles was a member of St. Mary’s RCC, Kutztown. He was employed as a repairman for General Electric for 29 years before retiring. He is survived in addition to his wife by a son...

Dec 26, 2017

LaRue N. Grim, 88, of Kutztown, passed away in the morning hours Tuesday, December 26, 2017, of natural causes in the Reading Hospital. She was the widow of the late John W. Grim, who died in 1972. Born August 13, 1929, in Kutztown, she was a daughter of the late William N. & Acquilla S. (nee’ Stein) Gehret. A...

Dec 13, 2017

Perry E. Welder 61 of Blandon,died December 13, in Reading Hospital, after a long courageous battle with bile-duct cancer. He was the husband of Lori L. (Luckenbill) Welder. Perry was born in West Reading, a son of the late Earl and Nancy (Lead) Welder. He was a g graduate of Reading High School and was employed for 17 years...

Dec 10, 2017

Desiree’ L. (Sweimler) Kennedy, 37 of Hamburg died December 10th in the Hospice Unit at LVHC 17th & Chew. She was born in Reading the daughter of JoAnn L. (Sweimler) Ross of Kutztown and Ronald Snyder Jr. of Auburn.

In addition to her parents she is survived by stepfather, Horst Zornek of Oley. Daughters, Madison M.S. Morehart,...

Dec 6, 2017

William E. Pascoe Sr. 71, died in his Fogelsville residence December 6.  He was the husband of Diane F. (Brunner) Pascoe.  He was born in Bethlehem a son of the late Willard J. and Kathryn (Field) Pascoe.  William was employed for twenty years as a truck driver for  Mark Metals, Reading. He is survived in addition to his wife...

Dec 2, 2017

Linda L. Losch 74 of Kutztown died December 2, in Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown. She was born in Topton, a daughter of the late Paul W. and Mildred I. (Troop) Losch.  Linda was employed as a receptionist for Bergey Trucking for eight years retiring in 2007. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Kutztown, and was a very...

Nov 29, 2017

Joline M. Stein, 78, of Kutztown, passed away in the early morning hours, Wednesday, November 29, 2017, with her husband by her side.  She was the wife of Feryl H. Stein. Born July 4, 1939, in Fleetwood, she was a daughter of the late Joseph & Esther (nee’ Heffner) Ludwig. She was a 1957 graduate of Kutztown High School,...

Nov 24, 2017

Ivan D. Cronrath, 59, of Kutztown died November 24 in the Hospice Unit of Lehigh Valley Hospital.

He was the husband of Wanda D. (Transue) Cronrath, to whom he was married for 38 years.

Ivan was  born in Reading a son of the late Daniel G. and Lucy J. (Fisher) Cronrath.

He was...

Nov 8, 2017

Jean H. Rader 83, died November 8, in her Fleetwood residence.  She was the widow of LeRoy M. Rader who died in 2001. Jean was born in Allentown a daughter of the late Elwood and Helen Ralph. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Kutztown and was employed as a sale clerk at the former Kutztown Footwear. Jean...

Nov 6, 2017

Ray L. Balthaser 87, died in his Virginville  residence November 6.  He was the husband of Grace M.(Balthaser) Balthaser. He was born in Greenwich Township, a son of the late Nevin V. and Elsie L. (Dietrich) Balthaser. Ray was employed as a draftsman at the Birdboro Corporation for 28 years retiring in 1993. He was a member St. Paul’s...

Oct 22, 2017

Barbara Ann (Focht) Held died Sunday, October 22 at her residence in the Topton Home.  She passed peacefully in her sleep.  Born September 26, 1936 in Reading Pennsylvania to the late Charles and Kathryn (Young) Focht.  Barbara was a 1954 graduate of Kutztown Area High School and a graduate of the Reading Hospital School of Nursing in 1957 receiving...