Obituaries by LocationHelen A. Borkey
Ex-Upper Bern secretary
Services were held in the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Centerport, for Helen A. Borkey, 71, formerly of Upper Bern Township, who was dead on arrival April 8 in Reading Hospital.
She was taken to the hospital from the Mifflin Center, Cumru Township, where she had resided since March 19. She previously resided at Country Meadows of Wyomissing for three years.
Burial was in Frieden’s Cemetery , Shartlesville.
Borkey was predeceased by her husband, Franklin J. Borkey, who died Aug. 2, 1997.
Born in Windsor Township, she was a daughter of the late Clarence J. and Evelyn E. (Faust) Berger.
She served several terms as the Upper Bern Township secretary.
Borkey was employed in the packaging department of Flag-Utica Division of Merit Underwear Co., Shoemakersville, for eight years, and also sold items for Dutch-Maid Clothing, Sunshine Products and Stanley Products.
She was a member of Frieden’s Church, Shartlesville.
Surviving are a son, Franklin J. Borkey Jr., Upper Bern Township; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Other survivors include a brother, Robert C. Berger, and a sister, Thelma (Berger) Yuknavage, both of Upper Bern Township.
Helen M. Berger
Services were held in the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Helen M. Berger, 85, formerly of Shartlesville, who died April 9 in the Laurel Center Genesis Elder Care, Tilden Township, where she had resided since Jan. 1.
Burial was in Strausstown Union Cemetery .
Born in Upper Bern Township, she was a daughter of the late Emmanuel M. and Daisy M. (Adams) Berger.
Until retiring, she was employed by the Bernville Manufacturing Co., for 10 years. She was previously employed by Burkey Underwear Co., Hamburg; the Hamburg Diner; and Haag’s Hotel, Shartlesville.
Berger was a member of Zion’s (Blue Mountain) United Church of Christ, Strausstown.
Surviving are a sister, Lillian I. (Berger) Bausher, a resident at the Laurel Center.
James L. Callahan Jr.
Services were held in the Bean Funeral Home, Reading, for James L. Callahan Jr., 79, of Bernville Road, Bern Township, who died June 7 in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient since May 26.
Burial was in Charles Evans Cemetery .
He was predeceased by his wife, Ardelle M. (Cartell) Callahan, who died March 6, 2001.
Born in Reading, he was a son of the late James L. Sr. and Carrie D. (Nein) Callahan.
Until retiring in 1981, he was employed by Dana Corp. for many years.
He was a 1940 graduate of Reading High School and a World War II Army veteran.
Surviving is a daughter, Shelia M. Callahan, Altamonte Springs, Fla., and a sister, Eleanor M. (Callahan) Resch, Reading.
Joyce E. Jones
Services were held in the Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, West Reading, for Joyce E. Jones, 63, of Mohrsville Road, Perry Township, who died of natural causes June 8 in St. Joseph Medical Center, where she had been a patient since May 23.
Burial was in Epler’s Cemetery , Bern Township.
She was the wife of Albert J. Jones.
Born in Reading, she was a daughter of the late Daniel and Edna (Sensenig) Roth.
Until retiring in 2002, she was employed as a lens polisher by Pennsylvania Optical Co. for 30 years.
She was a member of Epler’s United Church of Christ, Bern Township.
Also surviving are a daughter, Mistee M. (Ross) Atkins, Shartlesville; a son, Scott R. Cullen, Perry Township; and a stepson, Gregory A. Jones, Reading.
There are also four grandchildren.
Other survivors include a sister, Joan (Roth) Lenhart, and a brother, Glenn Roth, both of Bern Township.
John R. Zellers
Ex-Leesport council president
Services were held in Trinity United Church of Christ, Leesport, for John R. “Todd” Zellers, 88, of Hafer Drive, Leesport, who died June 8 in St. Joseph Medical Center, where he had been a patient since May 29.
Burial was in Leesport Cemetery .
He was predeceased by his wife, Claire E. (Hafer) Zellers, who died Oct. 9.
Born in Ontelaunee Township, he was a son of the late Edwin and Ellen N. (Burkart) Zellers.
He was Leesport Borough Council President from 1961 to 1965.
Until retiring in 1977, he was employed in the maintenance department of Carpenter Steel Co. for 36 years.
He was a World War II Coast Guard veteran.
Zellers was a member of Trinity UCC Church, Leesport, and a former deacon of St. John’s (Gernant’s) UCC, Ontelaunee Township.
He was a member of the Leesport Cemetery Board.
Surviving are several nieces and nephews.
The Milkins Funeral Home, Temple, was in charge of arrangements.
Gerald F. Bleile
Former Shoey mayor
Services were held in the Burkey & Driscoll Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Gerald F. Bleile, 79, of Fifth Street, Shoemakersville, who died June 8 in Laurel Center Genesis Elder Care, Tilden Township, where he had resided nine days.
Burial was in St. Michael’s Cemetery , Tilden Township.
He was the husband of Shirley M. (Miller) Bleile.
Born in Philadelphia, he was a son of the late Henry A. and Bertha M. (Miller) Bleile.
He served as mayor of Shoemakersville from 1972 to 1982.
Bleile was secretary of the Perry Township School Authority from 1964 to 1984, and was a member of the Shoemakersville Sewer Authority from 1985 to 1972.
He was president of the Shoemakersville Rotary Club in 1967-68, and was treasurer of Boy Scout Troup 163, Shoemakersville, from 1954 to 1968.
Bleile was a 50-year member and past master of Vaux Lodge 406, F&AM, Hamburg.
Until retiring in 1986 as general manager, he was last employed by Wenco Industries, Hamburg, for five years.
Also surviving are two sons, Dr. Dennis M. Bleile, San Ramon, Calif., and Steven M. Bleile, Bonner Ferry, Idaho, and four grandchildren.
Other survivors include five sisters: Bertha (Bleile) Naus, Schuylkill Haven; Vivian (Bleile) Buehler, Allentown; Marjorie Bleile, Lenhartsville; Katherine (Bleile) Mauritz, Meridian, Idaho; nad Elizabeth (Bleile) Barhydts, Sparks, Nev.
There are also five brothers: Henry Bleile Jr., Pharr, Texas; Robert Bleile, Lodi, Calif.; Donald Bleile, San Mateo, Calif.; Harry Bleile, Fair Oaks, Calif.; and Alfred Bleile, Orwigsburg.
He was predeceased by a daughter, Nancy Lee Bleile, who died in 1949, and by a son, Kim M. Bleile, who died in 1975.
David H. Reist
Services were held in the Bean Funeral Home, Sinking Spring, for David H. Reist, 68, who died June 6 in his Allen Street, Perry Township residence.
Burial was in Pricetown Cemetery .
According to police, Reist died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Born in Reading, he was a son of Florence L. (Bieber) Reist, Wescosville, Lehigh County, and the late Augustus S. Reist.
He was a 1953 graduate of Oley Valley High School and an Army veteran.
Until retiring in 1994, he was employed by Dana Corp., Reading, for 31 years.
He was past president of the Pricetown Rifle and Gun Club and served on the board of the United Singles Dance Club.
Surviving are Mary E. (Deboard) Gilberthorpe, with whom he resided, and a son, Vicar Michael L. Reist, Birdsboro.
There are also two grandsons, three step-granddaughters and one step-great-granddaughter.
Other survivors include a brother, Daniel A. Reist, Pricetown; and two sisters, Linda M. (Reist) Dutko, Allentown, and Madelyn A. (Reist) Kendall, Placentia, Calif.
John A. Fidler
Memorial services were held in the Burkey & Driscoll Funeral Home, Hamburg, for John A. Fidler, 82, of Lincoln Drive, Tilden Township, who died June 10 in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient one day.
Burial was in St. John’s Cemetery , Hamburg.
He was the husband of Dorothy S. (Dinkel) Fidler.
Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late John A. and Anna (Machmer) Fidler.
Until retiring in 1984, he was employed as a wood pattern maker by Dinkel Pattern Works, Hamburg, for many years.
He was a 1938 graduate of Hamburg High School.
Fidler was a member and former councilman of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hamburg.
He was a World War II Navy veteran.
Also surviving are a daughter, Nancy S. (Fidler) Hoffman, Tilden Township; a son, John A. Fidler Jr., Reading; and two grandchildren.
Mabel E. Billman
Private services were arranged by the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Mabel E. (Gernert) Billman, 84, formerly of Wyndcliffe House Apartments, Hamburg, who died June 9 in Laurel Center Genesis Elder Care, Tilden Township, where she had resided since Nov. 30.
Burial was in St. Michael’s Cemetery .
Born in Allentown, she was a daughter of the late Rosa J. (Danenhower) Bachman Hamm.
Until retiring in 1984, she was employed as a sewing machine operator by Dutch Knitting MIll, Burkey Underwear Co., and Windsor Knitting Mill, all of Hamburg, for many years.
Surviving are three sons: Donald L. Billman and Steven C. Billman, both of Hamburg, and Neal E. Billman, Stroudsburg.
There are also eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Other survivors include a half brother, Howard Hamm, and a half sister, Pearl Hamm, both of New Tripoli, Lehigh County.
Erma K. Herber
Services were held in the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Erma K. Herber, 89, formerly of South Fourth Street, Hamburg, who died June 11 in Laurel Center Genesis Elder Care, Tilden Township, where she had resided since July.
Burial was in Frieden’s Cemetery , Lenhartsville.
Born in Greenwich Township, she was a daughter of the late George A. and Katie A. (George) Herber.
She was employed as a sewing machine operator by Windsor Knitting Mills, Hamburg, for many years until retiring Feb. 28, 1980. From May 1980 until April 2002, she was employed by the Leibensperger Card and Gift Shop, Hamburg.
Herber was a charter member of the Shoemakersville Fire Company auxiliary.
She was a member of Frieden’s United Church of Christ, Lenhartsville.
Surviving are a brother, Lloyd W. Herber, Hamburg, and two sisters, Mabel A. (Herber) Smith and Alma A. (Herber) Dreisbach, both of Shoemakersville.
