Obituaries by LocationKENNETH S. SEMACH
Services were held for Kenneth S. Semach, 41, husband of Brenda L. (Miller) Semach of Broad Street, Gilbertsville, who died June 3 [2002] due to an automobile accident.
Born in Pottstown, he was a son of Michael Semach of Collegeville and Sallylee (Heldenbrand) Varsaci of Portland, Maine.
He graduated from Spring-Ford High School in 1980.
Semach worked as a custodian for the Western Center for Technical Studies, Limerick, for the past six years. He was a custodian at the Montgomery County Geriatric and Rehabilitation Center, Upper Providence, for 10 years.
He was a member of Falkner Swamp United Church of Christ, Gilbertsville.
Surviving in addition to his wife and parents are a son, Jacob C. Semach of Gilbertsville; a stepmother, Adele Semach of Collegeville; and two brothers.
He was preceded in death by his stepfather.
Contributions may be made to the church or to the Epilepsy Foundation of Southeastern Pennsylvania, 128 Chestnut St., Suite 104, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
The arrangements were handled by the Catagnus Funeral Home, Gilbertsville.
Burial was private.
ROBERTA P. LEHMANN
Private services were held for Roberta P. (LaBar) Lehmann, 83, wife of Paul V. Z. Lehmann, of Lehmann Lane, Bechtelsville, who died June 4 [2002] in Pottstown Memorial Medical Center.
She was born in Philadelphia.
Surviving are four sons, Donald P. Lehmann of Pottstown, Richard E. Lehmann of Bechtelsville, Edmund D. Lehmann of Landis Store, and Paul V. Z. Lehmann Jr. of Pottstown.
Also six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by a daughter.
The Warker-Troutman Funeral Home, Pottstown, handled the arrangements.
BRIAN K. MELCHER
A graveside service was held for Brian K. Melcher, 45, of South Madison Street, Boyertown, who died June 5 [2002] at his home.
He was born in Pottstown to Robert F. and Arlene E. (Beitler) Melcher, with whom he resided.
Melcher was a welder.
He was a member of Calvary United Church of Christ, Barto.
In addition to his parents, Melcher is survived by a brother, Bruce A. Melcher of Bechtelsville.
He was predeceased by a brother.
Contributions may be made to Calvary United Church of Christ Memorial Fund, 1231 Route 100, Barto, PA 19504.
The arrangements were handled by the Losh-Morrell-Klotzbach Funeral Home, Boyertown.
CURTIS C. ZERN
Services will be held on Saturday for Curtis C. Zern, 58, of Martin Avenue, Gilbertsville, who died June 7 [2002] at the Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, Ontario, where he had been a patient.
He was the husband of Patricia D. (Reitnauer) Zern. They recently celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary on June 6.
He was a son of Earl W. and Marguerite (Spotts) Zern, of Gilbertsville.
Born in Pottstown, he was a 1961 graduate of Boyertown High School.
He was a member of Shepherd of the Hills UCC Church, Bechtelsville.
Zern was a veteran serving four years in the US Air Force during the Vietnam conflict.
He owned and operated Zern’s Country Sportsman, Gilbertsville for the past 12 years. Prior to that, he was employed as a police officer with Douglass (Montg). Township for 13 years. In addition, he had worked for Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Willow Grove for 13 years, serving last as vice president. He had also worked in sales, as a service manager and as the sales manager for Ontario, Canada.
Zern was fire chief of the Gilbertsville Fire Company from 1981-1989. He served as assistant chief from 1966 to 1980. In addition, he served as the financial secretary and was a life member.
He also served as Douglass (Montg) Township Fire Marshal from 1982 to 1989.
Zern was a life member of Sassamansville Fire Company; life member of New Hanover Fire Company; life member of West End Fire Company, Stowe; life member of North American Fishing Club; member of Keystone Fire Company, Boyertown; Liberty Fire Company, New Berlinville; Keystone Fire Company, Bechtelsville; Bally Fire Company, Bally; American Legion, Boyertown; Boyertown Rod & Gun Club; Bally Sportsmans Association; Bass Anglers Sportsmans Association; Greater Bobs & Crow Lake Association.
In addition to his wife and parents, he is survived by a daughter, Michelle L. (Zern) Weller, Gilbertsville; a son, Robert A. Zern, Barto; and two grandsons.
Also two sisters, Marjorie A. (Zern) Gallie, Green Lane and Susan E. (Zern) Gamler, Gilbertsville; and two brothers: E. William Zern, Gilbertsville and Clarence H. Zern, Fortescue, New Jersey.
Contributions may be made in his memory to: Gilbertsville Fire Company, New Truck Fund, 1454 E. Philadelphia Ave., Gilbertsville, PA 19525 or to Shepherd of the Hills UCC Church, 527 Hoffmansville Road, Bechtelsville, PA 19505.
Services will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Catagnus Funeral Home, Inc., 1020 E. Philadelphia Ave., Gilbertsville.
The Rev. Vernon Stoop, Jr., will be officiating.
A viewing will be held Friday evening, from 7 to 9 p.m. and again Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Shepherd of the Hills UCC Church Cemetery , Bechtelsville.
VIOLA M. CRAZE
Services will be held for Viola M. (DePenna) Craze, 82, wife of Richard J. Craze, formerly of Hillcrest Drive, Boyertown, who died June 8 [2002] at the Berkshire Center, Exeter, where she resided since 1997.
Born in Paterson, N.J., Craze owned and operated the Manatawny Log Cabin in Earl Township for 20 years, retiring in 1981.
She was a member of Schwarzwald Lutheran Church, Jacksonwald.
Surviving with her widower are two daughters, Diane L. (Kercher) Morrison, Cedar City, Utah, and Suzanne R. (Kercher) Herbst, Exeter; two sons, Robert C. Burger, Jefferson, York County, and Terry B. Kercher, Dover, York County.
Also two sisters, Mary F. Quimby, Mount Penn and Julia V. Seidel, Oley; a stepbrother, Dominic DePenna, Devon; 12 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by a son and a step-brother.
Service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Christ & Catagnus Funeral Home Inc., 423 Main St., Oley.
Calling hours are 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Burial will be at Schwarzwald Cemetery , Jacksonwald.
DONALD B. GALLIE
Services will be Thursday for Donald Bruce Gallie, 83, husband of June Marie (Edwards) Gallie, of Bowmansville, formerly of Perkiomenville, who died June 8 [2002] , at at his residence.
Born in Philadelphia, Gallie was an electrician for I.B.E.W. Local 654, Chester, for 43 years, retiring in 1982.
He was a peacetime veteran of the United States Army.
Gallie was a member of Shepherd of the Hills United Church of Christ, Bechtelsville.
Surviving in addition to his wife are two sons, Bruce of Green Lane; Brian of Pottstown; a daughter, Debra Gallie of Bowmansville.
Also, a sister; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Shepherd of the Hills United Church of Christ, 527 Hoffmansville Road, Bechtelsville, PA 19505.
Calling hours will begin one hour prior to the service.
Contributions may be sent to the church.
Burial will be in the church Cemetery .
The Falk Funeral Home, Pennsburg, handled the arrangements.
MATTHEW J. REDDING
Services will be Thursday for Matthew J. Redding, 15, of Farmington Avenue, Boyertown, who died June 9 [2002] at Lehigh Valley Hospital as the result of an auto accident.
He was born in Norristown to the late Lynwood A. Redding and Jeri L. (Ellis) Redding of Boyertown, who survives.
He attended Boyertown Area High School and was employed at Bart’s Sunoco in Pottstown.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by two brothers, Mike A. Redding of Pottstown, Mark S. Redding of Boyertown and a paternal grandmother, Helen (Hoffman) Redding of Lansdale.
Services will be held at 12 noon Thursday at Catagnus Funeral Home, 711 N. Franklin St., Pottstown, with the Rev. Larry A. Pickar Sr. officiating.
Calling hours will be from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1830 E. High St., Pottstown, PA 19464.
Burial will be private.
JOSH S. G. BOOS
Services will be held Thursday for Josh S. G. Boos, 20, of Farmington Avenue, Boyertown, who died June 10 [2002] in St. Luke’s Hospital, Bethlehem, as a result of an auto accident.
Born in Pottstown, he was a son of Sasha G. G. Boos of Bechtelsville and Kathleen D. (Cardy) Boos of Boyertown.
Boos attended Boyertown Area High School and worked at Bart’s Sunoco, Pottstown.
Surviving in addition to his parents is his paternal grandfather, George K. Boos of Shamokin; maternal grandmother Anna (Och’s) Cardy of Boyertown; and a sister, Rubi A. Boos of Boyertown.
He was preceded in death by a maternal grandfather and a paternal grandmother.
Funeral services will be at noon at Catagnus Funeral Home Inc., 711 North Franklin St., Pottstown. The Rev. Larry A. Pickar Sr. will officiate.
Calling hours begin at 9 a.m. at the funeral home.
Contributions may be sent to Pottstown Public Library, 500 High St., Pottstown, PA 19464.
ANTHONY W. KLOKIS
Services were held for Anthony W. Klokis, 82, of Frederick, formerly of Boyertown, who died August 4 [2003] in the Frederick Mennonite Community. He was the husband of Dorothy (Renninger) Klokis.
Born in Kulpmont, Northumberland County, he was a 1939 graduate of Kulpmont High School.
Klokis retired in 1985 after five years with Occidental Chemical Corp. in Lower Pottsgrove. Before that, he had worked for 34 years at Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., which occupied the same site prior to Occidental Chemical.
He also worked part-time as a licensed barber in Stowe for 35 years.
During World War II, Klokis served in the Marine Corps.
He was a member of St. Gabriel’s Roman Catholic Church in Stowe.
Klokis was also a member of the George Amole American Legion Post No. 47 in Pottstown.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Eileen Stauffer of Reading and Kathleen Ballaron of Chester Springs; a son, James Klokis of Pottstown.
Also a brother, eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his first wife; his second wife; a son, a daughter and a brother.
Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 100 N. 17th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103.
Burial was in St. Aloysius New Cemetery in Lower Pottsgrove.
The arrangements were handled by the Catagnus Funeral Home, Gilbertsville.
