Obituaries by LocationVIOLA S. BOTTS
Private graveside services were held for Viola S. (Yerger) Botts, 74, widow of Charles E. Botts, of Pottstown, who died Aug. 29 at her residence in the Sidney Pollick House, Pottstown. Born in Pottstown, she attended Gilbertsville school, and lived in the Boyertown Area for many years. She was employed in the admissions department of Lanshire Hall Nursing Home, Lancaster County, before her retirement. She is survived by a sister. The arrangements were handled by the Ruggliero Funeral Home, Trappe.
HENRY D. SWENK
Services were held for Henry D. Swenk, 76, husband of Nancy A. (Workman) Swenk, of the Lutheran Community at Telford and formerly of Logan Street, Pottstown, who died Aug. 29 at the community. Born in Barto, Swenk was a shipper for 32 years with Neapco, Pottstown. He was a World War II veteran, and was awarded the Purple Heart for his service in the Pacific Theater. He was a member of Pike Township Sportsman’s Association. Surviving with his widow are a son, H. David Swenk, Quakertown; one brother, Ralph Swenk, Amity; two sisters, Dorothy, wife of Russell Weller, Bechtelsville and Evelyn, wife of Kermit Gottshall, Boyertown. Memorial contributions may be made to the Grandview Hospital Hospice, Sellersville. There was no viewing for Swenk, with the arrangements handled by the Schumacher & Benner Funeral Home, Pottstown.
EDNA M. KOCHAN
Services were held for Edna M. Kochan, 89, of Reading Ave., West Reading, who died Sept. 2 in the Reading Hospital, where she had been a patient. Her husband, Benjamin Kochan, died in 1982. Born in Ruscombmanor Township, Kochan was a member of the United Church of Christ Congregation of Salem (Belleman’s) Church, Centre Township. She is survived by two sons, Charles J., Centre Township, and Jack B., Bern Township; and a daughter, Anna A. Kochan, West Reading. Other survivors include a sister, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. The Leibensperger Funeral Homes Inc., Centerport, handled the arrangements.
RUTH LEATHERMAN YODER
Services were held for Ruth C. (Bolton) Leatherman Yoder, 89, widow of Norman G. Yoder, and of the Rev. Daniel D. Leatherman, of Souderton Mennonite Homes, Souderton and formerly of Bechtelsville and Telford, who died Sept. 1 at Grand View Hospital, Sellersville. Born in Hatfield Township, she was employed for about eight years in the linens department at North Penn Hospital, Lansdale, before working for nine years in the shipping department of Young’s Casters, Souderton, retiring in 1985. She was a member of Lansdale Mennonite Church, where she was a former Sunday school and Vacation Bible School teacher. Surviving are one daughter, Esther L. Kisamore, Colorado Springs, Co.; two sons, Daniel R. Leatherman, Elkhart, Ind., and James A. Leatherman, Plymouth, Ind.; two stepdaughters, Grace, wife of Mark Gehman, of Bechtelsville, and Naomi, wife of Abram Clemens, of Lowville, N.Y.; three stepsons, Paul Yoder, Boyertown, David Yoder, Harrisonburg, Va., and Norman Glen Yoder, of Harleysville. Also one sister, 11 grandchildren, 24 step-grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and 55 step-great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husbands, she was predeceased by six brothers and three sisters. Memorial donations may be made to the Lansdale Mennonite Church, York and Cannon avenues, Lansdale, PA 19446, or to the charity of one’s choice. The arrangements were handled by the Anders-Detweiler Funeral Home, Souderton.
HAROLD A. SCHLEGEL
Services were held for Harold A. Schlegel, 79, of Wanshop Road, Alsace Township, who died Aug. 21 in St. Joseph Medical Center, where he had been a patient. He was the husband of Gloria G. (Ernst) Schlegel. Born in Stony Creek Mills, he had been employed for 30 years as a draw bench operator by Reading Tube Corp., retiring in 1978. He was a Navy veteran of World War II.
Schlegel is also survived by a son, Ralph M., Reading, and two daughters: Virginia D. (Schlegel) Lisa, Shillington, and Donna M. (Schlegel) Kozlowski, Oley. Other survivors include a brother, Harry, Oley, and four sisters: Erma (Schlegel) Mengel, West Reading; Shirley (Schlegel) Brown, Reading; Rita (Schlegel) Ollar, Oley; and Rose Marie (Schlegel) Eppler, Fleetwood. There are also 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by two sons, Richard C. and Dale A. The arrangements were handled by the Auman Funeral Home, Reiffton.
MELVIN H. CLEMMER
Services were held for Melvin H. Clemmer, 92, husband of Henrietta M. (Moyer) Clemmer and widower of Amanda R. (Conrad) Clemmer, of Schoolhouse Road, Bechtelsville. He died Aug. 22 in the Manatawny Manor Nursing Home, East Coventry. Born in Boyertown, he was self-employed as a carpenter for 10 years until his retirement in 1990. He was previously employed by the former Melvin N. Reichart Butcher Shop, Bechtelsville, and the former Colebrookdale Iron Co. He was a member of St. John (Hill) United Church of Christ, Pike Township, where he served as a deacon, elder and trustee for many years; a member of the Bechtelsville Fire Co., and a life member of the Pike Township Sportsman’s Assoc.; secretary of the Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society, Camp 507, Bechtelsville; and a member of the Hill Church Cemetery Board. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Janet C. Clemmer of Reading and Anna C., wife of Nicholas J. Giardiello, of Muhlenburg Township; and two sisters, Helen Kolb of Spring City and Edna Reichert of Landis Store. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society of Berks County, 498 Bellevue Ave., Reading, PA 19605. The arrangements were handled by the Catagnus Funeral Home, Gilbertsville.
MAE M. POLINKO
Private services were held for Mae M. (Reiner-Scott) Polinko, 75, widow of Edward Polinko of Woodside Lane, Boyertown, who died Aug. 20 in her residence She was born in Mt. Carmel, and was a homemaker. Polinko was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Kulpmon. She is survived by her caregivers, Art and Bonnie Zipp, Boyertown, and two nieces. Memorial contributions may be made to Boyertown Ambulance Association, 2 E. Second St., Boyertown, PA 19512 or to the charity of one’s choice. The arrangements were handled by the L. W. Ott Funeral Home, Boyertown.
BEATRICE KRASLEY
Funeral services were held for Beatrice (Klein) Krasley, 91, of Frederick and formerly of Perkiomenville, widow of Paul S. Krasley, who died Aug. 23 in Phoenixville Hospital. Born in Rahns, she was a 1926 graduate of the former Collegeville High School and a 1930 graduate of Ursinus College, Collegeville. She then taught at the former Schwenksville School District. A member of the First United Church of Christ, Royersford, she was also a member of the Eastern Star Freeland Chapter, Collegeville, the Royersford Women’s Club and the Lehigh Valley Ladies Auxiliary. Surviving are a daughter, Charlotte K., wife of Nelson D. Bowser, West Chester; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Memorial gifts may be made in her name to First United Church of Christ, Royersford, PA 19468. The Cattermole-Klotzbach Funeral Home, Royersford, handled the arrangements.
PAULINE I. VANIM
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered for Pauline I. (Dries) Vanim, 79, wife of Alfred Vanim, of Krocks Road, Allentown, and formerly of Bally and Zionsville, who died August 24 in Lehigh Valley Hospital. Born in Trexlertown, she was employed as a sewing machine operator at Stauffer Brothers Manufacturing Co., Red Hill, and at various other businesses in Emmaus and Bechtelsville before she retired. She and her husband had celebrated 60 years of marriage in May. Vanim was formerly a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Emmaus, and St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Salisbury. In addition to her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Christine Howerter, Bally, and Sally Ann Nuelle, Salt Lake City; four sons, Alfred, of Reading, David and Philip, both of Zionsville, and Daniel, of Tuckertown, N.J.; two brothers, 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers and a sister. Memorial donations may be made to Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Box C, Bally, PA 19503. The Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Home, Emmaus, handled the arrangements.
MELVIN L. CARLSON
Private burial was held for Melvin L. Carlson, 91, of the Frederick Mennonite Community, Upper Frederick, formerly of Limerick, who died Aug. 24 at his residence. Born in Plymouth, Luzerne County, he was employed as a stationary engineer by the former Taylor Fibre Co., Betzwood, until his retirement in 1972. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving during World War II as a stationary fireman first class. Carlson was educated at the Larksville School and was a member of the Falkner Swamp United Church of Christ, Gilbertsville, and the Warren Lodge F & AM 310, Collegeville. He is survived by a brother and a sister. Carlson was predeceased by a sister. Memorial donations may be made to the Frederick Mennonite Community Benevolent Fund, P.O. Box 498, Frederick, PA 19435. The arrangements were handled by the L. W. Ott Funeral Home Inc., Boyertown.
