Obituaries by LocationRaphael A. Rentschler
Memorial services were held in the Milkins Funeral Home, Temple, for Raphael A. Rentschler, 91, Florin Avenue, Muhlenberg Township, who died April 14 in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient three days.
Burial was in Leesport Cemetery .
He was the husband of Helen D. (Dunkelberger) Rentschler.
Rentschler, born in Shartlesville, was a son of the late Robert and Herma (Althouse) Rentschler.
Until retiring in 1978, he had been employed as a salesman by A.W. Golden, Reading, for 13 years.
He was a member of Leesport Trinity United Church of Christ.
Rentschler was a World War II Army Air Forces veteran, serving as flight instructor.
Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
Albert P. Zerr
Services were held in First United Church of Christ, Hamburg, for Albert P. Zerr, 76, Berne Road, Tilden Township, who died April 9 in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient two days.
Burial was in Berks County Memorial Gardens, Maidencreek Township.
He was predeceased by his wife, Virginia K. (Orth) Zerr, who died April 29, 1994.
Zerr, born in Reading, was a son of the late Wendell and Elizabeth (Badinger) Zerr.
Until retiring in 1984, he was employed as an electrician by Wernersville State Hospital. He had also been employed for many years as a consultant by Bata Machines and was a self-employed auctioneer. He had also been employed by Reading Aviation Service Inc., Bern Township.
Zerr was a 1943 graduate of Shillington High School and a World War II Navy veteran.
He was a charter member of the Shoemakersville Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Zerr was recorder, past grand commander and deputy supreme commander of Friendship Commandery 247, Knights of Malta.
He was a member of the Lutheran congregation of St. Luke’s Church, Shoemakersville.
Surviving are a daughter, Linda S. (Zerr) Yoder, Lenhartsville; two sons, Dwight D. Zerr and Rodney P. Zerr, both of Tilden Township; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Other survivors include a brother, Richard Zerr, Windsor Township, and Janet C. Craley, with whom he resided.
The Burkey & Driscoll Funeral Home, Hamburg, was in charge of arrangements.
Joseph A. Schwartz Jr.
Services were held in the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Joseph A. Schwartz Jr., 65, Dogwood Drive, Tilden Township, who died of natural causes April 13 shortly after arrival in Reading Hospital.
Burial was in Salem-Berne United Methodist Cemetery , Tilden Township.
Schwartz, born in Hamburg, was a son of the late Joseph A. Sr. and Alma E. (Marquardt) Schwartz.
Until retiring in 1997, he had been employed in the quality control department of Mid-Atlantic Canners, Hamburg, for 20 years.
He was a 1953 graduate of Hamburg High School and a Korean War Army veteran.
Schwartz was a past president and secretary of the Strausstown Lions Club and a former officer in the Strausstown Fire Company.
He was a member of Salem (Berne) United Methodist Church, Tilden Township.
Surviving is a son, Craig J. Schwartz, Middletown, Dauphin County and two granddaughters.
Elsie M. Criswell
Private services were held for Elsie M. Criswell, 86, formerly of Allentown, who died April 6 in the Lehigh Valley Hospital.
She was taken to the hospital from Phoebe Home, Allentown.
She was predeceased by her husband, Earl H. Criswell.
Criswell, born in Centre Township, was a daughter of the late Edward R. and Gertie M. (Schappell) Maderia.
Until retiring, she was employed as a retail clerk in the towel department by Hess’s Department Store, Allentown, for over 18 years.
Criswell was a member of the Salem United Methodist Church, Allentown.
Survivors include a sister, Kathryn Machemer, Allentown, and a niece and nephews.
The Stephens Funeral Home, Allentown, was in charge of arrangements.
Leon G. Kirkhoff
Civic leader
Services were held in Bern Lutheran Church, Bern Township, for Leon G. Kirkhoff, 81, Stevens Avenue, Bernville, who died April 7 in Berks Heim, where he had resided since June 2, 2000.
Burial was in Bern Cemetery , Bern Township.
He was the husband of Mary S. (Sensenig) Kirkhoff.
Kirkhoff, born in Penn Township, was a son of the late Albert S. and Margaret P. (Davis) Kirkhoff.
He was a self-employed farmer in Penn Township until 1975 and served as farm manager for Berks County until retiring in 1987.
Kirkhoff was active in grange activities from the local to state level, including serving as former deputy and committeeman for the Pennsylvania State Grange, Harrisburg. He served in numerous positions, including master, at Ontelaunee Grange #1617 and Berks County Pomona Grange #43.
He was named Granger of the Year in 1991.
Kirkhoff and his family were named Farm Family of the Year in 1960.
He served six years on the Penn Township Planning Commission.
Kirkhoff was a former treasurer and director of the Pennsylvania Dairy Herd Improvement Association and a former chairman of the 4-H Development Council and Building Committee, Bern Township.
He was also a committeeman for numerous agricultural organizations.
Kirkhoff served as second vice president of the Reading Fair Board and was a member of the board for the Berks County Prison.
He was inducted into the Pennsylvania Voter Hall of Fame for 50 years of consecutive voting.
Kirkhoff was a member of Bern Lutheran Church, Bern Township, where he was a former council member.
Also surviving are two daughters, Ruth A. (Kirkhoff) Steinhauer and Doris J. (Kirkhoff) Evans, both of Bernville, and three sons: Ronald R. Kirkhoff, Muhlenberg Township; Dale S. Kirkhoff, Duncannon, Perry County; and Dean A. Kirkhoff, Bernville.
There are also 17 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and five step-grandchildren.
Other survivors include a sister, Margaret (Kirkhoff) Baer, Mohrsville, and two brothers, Richard D. Kirkhoff, Wernersville, and Elwood B. Kirkhoff, Leesport.
Marguerite S. Ohlinger, 95
Marguerite S. Ohlinger, formerly of Main Street, Oley, died, Monday April 9, 2001 in the Henry Health Care Center at the Lutheran Home at Topton, where she had resided since August 1994.
Her husband, Leon R. Ohlinger, died Dec. 13, 1996.
Born in Oley Township, she was a daughter of the late Jacob F. and Annie (Stauffer) Rohrbach.
Ohlinger was a member of Frieden's Lutheran Church, Oley.
Surviving are a sister, Meda (Rohrbach) Moyer, Oley; and four half brothers: Charles, Ernest and Ray Rohrbach, Oley Township; and Roy Rohrbach, Ruscombmanor Township.
She was predeceased by a daughter, Susan R. Ohlinger, in 1976.
Services were Friday in the Daniel R. Christ Funeral Home, Oley. Burial was in Frieden's Cemetery , Oley.
Elwood F. Schaeffer, 81
Elwood F. Schaeffer, of 101 Virginia Ave., Exeter Township, died, Tuesday, April 10, 2001 in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient since March 13.
He was the husband of Martha E. (Strause) Schaeffer.
Born in Fleetwood, he was a son of the late Edwin G. and Edna R. (Stahler) Schaeffer.
Schaeffer was employed for 38 years by Eastern Foundry, Boyertown, retiring in 1984.
He was an Army veteran of World War II.
Schaeffer is also survived by three sons: David E., Exeter Township; Thomas L., Earl Township; and Robert G., Oley Township.
Other survivors include five daughters: Judith A. (Schaeffer) Metz, Ash Flat, Ark.; Nancy J. (Schaeffer) Bullick, Douglassville; Barbara J. (Schaeffer) Cleaver, Shillington; Ruth A. (Schaeffer) Williams, Fleetwood; and Linda S. (Schaeffer) Messina, Exeter Township.
Also surviving are two sisters, Helen (Schaeffer) Gordon, Spring Hill, Fla., and Leah (Schaeffer) O'Neil, Fleetwood; and four brothers: Carl, Boyertown; Earl, Oley; Edwin Jr., Douglassville; and Donald, Shillington.
There are also 11 grandchildren.
Graveside services were Saturday in Oley Uion Cemetery , Spangsville. The Daniel R. Christ Funeral Home, Oley, was in charge of arrangements.
Mabel M. Seaman, 82
Mabel M. Young Seaman, formerly of Fleetwood, died, Tuesday, April 10, 2001 in Mifflin Center, Cumru Township, where she had resided five years.
She was predeceased by her first husband, Neil H. Young, in 1965, and by her second husband, Harry J. Seaman, in 1976.
Born in Richmond Township, she was a daughter of the late Nora (Wahl) Deeter.
Seaman was employed as a bookkeeper by the Bucks Hardware Store, Fleetwood, and was last employed for 15 years as a bookkeeper by the First National Bank, Fleetwood, retiring in 1981.
She was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Fleetwood.
Surviving is a daughter, Patricia A. (Young) Dautrich, Fleetwood.
Other survivors include a half sister, Gladys D. (Deeter) Bower, Blandon; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be Saturday at 1 p.m. in Mae A. Stump Funeral Home Inc., Fleetwood. Burial will be in St. Paul's Union Cemetery , Fleetwood.
Lorna L. Schwoyer, 53
Lorna L. "Cookie" Schwoyer, died of natural causes, in her residence, at 14 Sweetcorn Drive, Maxatawny Township, Saturday, April 14, 2001,
Born in Topton, she was a daughter of Elizabeth (DeTurk) Grim, Boyertown, and the late James Brensinger.
Schwoyer was employed for the last 14 years as secretary of the board by Sun Combustion Corp., Kutztown.
Schwoyer, who last resided with Donald C. Noll, is also survived by two sons, Ronnie L. and Forrest E., both of Kutztown.
Other survivors include one brother, James E. Brensinger, Boyertown, and three sisters: Diane G. (Brensinger) Stinnard and Sherry N. (Brensinger) Scharff, both of Boyertown, and Noreen D. (Brensinger) Dudley, Pottstown.
There are also two grandchildren.
Services were Tuesday in Ludwick Funeral Home Inc., Kutztown. Burial was in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Reiffton.
Clarence Smith, 83
Clarence J. "Smitty" Smith, a Kutztown School Board member in the 1960s, died, Sunday, April 15, 2001 in Liberty Nursing and Rehabilitation, Allentown, where he had been a patient since April 5.
Smith, of 133 Noble St., Kutztown, was the husband of Leah E. (Oswald) Smith.
Born in Maxatawny Township, he was a son of the late John S. and Clara (Fegley) Smith.
Smith had been employed for 26 years as an insurance agent and manager by Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., Allentown, retiring in 1981.
He previously had been employed as a salesman for seven years by Kasco Mills, Waverly, N.Y., last working in 1955. He had also been employed for two years is sales by McMillen Mills, Decatur, Ill., last working in 1947.
He was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ, Kutztown, where he served more than two terms on the consistory. He had also been a member of the church building committee.
Smith was an Army Air Forces veteran of World War II, flying 69 bombing missions over Europe.
He was a national aide-de-camp of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1977-78, and was a member of VFW Post 7013, Kutztown.
Smith served on the Kutztown Municipal Authority in the 1960s and 1970s.
He had been a member for more than 50 years of Huguenot Lodge 377, F&AM, Kutztown, and the Kutztown Lions Club. He was the 1999 recipient of the club's Melvin Jones Fellowship Award.
He was a 1936 graduate of the McCann School of Business, Reading.
Smith is also survived by a son, Richard C., Mertztown, and a daughter, Susan E. (Smith) Seestedt, Horsham, Montgomery County.
There are also five grandchildren.
Memorial services are Thursday at 11 a.m. in St. John's Church. Burial will be private in Hope Cemetery , Kutztown. Ludwick Funeral Homes Inc., Kutztown, is in charge of arrangements.
