Obituaries by LocationLinda A. Gehman, 55
Services were held in the Ludwick Funeral Home, Topton, for Linda A. Gehman, of South Cherry Street, Topton, who died of natural causes Dec. 16 in Reading Hospital, where she had been a patient since Dec. 6.
Burial was in Topton Union Cemetery .
She was the wife of William F. Gehman.
Born in Allentown, she was a daughter of the late George W. and Anna M. (Heydt) Spangler.
She was a member of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, Topton.
Also surviving is a daughter, Kimberly A. Gehman, at home.
Christopher Demchyk, 24
Memorial services were held in Trinity Lutheran Church, Kutztown, for Christopher J. Demchyk, of Hottenstein Road, Maxatawny Township.
Demchyk was killed Dec. 18 when the vehicle he was operating struck a utility pole along Route 737 in Maxatawny Township around 10 p.m., and he was thrown from the vehicle. The death has been ruled an accident by the Berks County coroner’s office.
Burial was private.
Born in Allentown, he was a son of Stephen J. and Barbara K. (Murry) Demchyk, Maxatawny Township.
He was employed as an apprentice precision tool and die maker by Lutron Electronics, Coopersburg, Lehigh County, for the past six years.
Demchyk was a 1997 graduate of Kutztown Area High School.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
Also surviving are Paige E. Ciccolo, with whom he resided; a sister, Kathryn M. Demchyk, Maxatawny Township; and two brothers, Stephen J. Demchyk Jr., Malvern, Chester County, and Douglas W. Demchyk, Maxatawny Township.
Other survivors include his maternal grandparents, Emmanuel E. Murry and Kathryn P. (Hildenbrand) Finefrock, both of Lancaster, and his paternal grandmother, Marjorie S. (Santee) Demchyk, Naples, Fla.
The Ludwick Funeral Home, Kutztown, was in charge of arrangements.
Willard D. Feinour, 82
Services were held in the Robert S. Nester Funeral Home, New Tripoli, for Willard D. Feinour, of Allentown, who died Dec. 18 in Kutztown Manor Inc.
Burial was in Jacob’s Union Cemetery , New Tripoli.
She was predeceased by his wife, Marie E. (Stump) Feinour, who died Oct. 27, 2000.
Born in Lynn Township, he was a son of the late Victor J. and Katie E. (Kramer) Feinour.
Until retiring in 1983, he was employed as a machinist by Mack Trucks Inc., Allentown, for 42 years.
He was a World War II Marine Corps veteran.
Feinour was a member of Jacob’s United Church of Christ, New Tripoli.
He was a life member of American Legion Post 480, Kutztown, and the Amateur Trapshooting Association.
Surviving are a brother, Joseph D. Feinour, Kempton, and a sister, Malinda S. (Feinour) Beckley, Hamburg.
Sture O. Ekstrand, 93
Memorial services will be held Sat., Jan. 3, 2 p.m., in Grace Lutheran Church, Topton, for Sture O. Ekstrand, who died Dec. 19 in the Lutheran Home at Topton, where he had resided since June.
Burial will be private.
He was predeceased by his wife, Sabina (Cregier) Ekstand, who died Dec. 4, 1984.
Born in New York City, he was a son of the late Samuel and Marie (Olsen) Ekstrand.
Until retiring in 1975 as director of the semiconductor device and electron tube laboratory, he was employed by Bell Telephone Co., Reading, for 49 years.
He received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Cooper Union College, New York City, in 1935.
Ekstrand served with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and was selected in 1983 as Engineer of the Year by the Reading Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers.
He was a former director of the Berks County Chamber of Commerce from 1972-75.
Ekstrand was a member of the advisory board of Penn State University - Berks Campus, serving as chairman during the 1974-75 term.
He was a past president of the local chapter of Retired Telephone Pioneers of America.
Ekstrand was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Topton.
Surviving are two daughters, Dr. Gail Ekstrand, Lititz, Lancaster County, and Mariann (Esktrand) Shirk, West Chester, and two granddaughters.
The Ludwick Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Irene F. Adam, 92
Services were held in the Ludwick Funeral Home, Kutztown, for Irene F. Adam, formerly of Trexler Avenue, Maxatawny Township, who died Dec. 20 in the Henry Health Care Center of the Lutheran Home at Topton, where she had resided since Jan. 15.
Born in Maxatawny Township, she was a daughter of the late Jacob E. and Katie N. (Dietrich) Wanner.
Until retiring in 1974, she was employed in the kitchen of Kutztown University for 26 years.
Adam was actively involved for many years with the Kutztown Fire Company ladies auxiliary and the Kutztown Area Senior Citizen group.
She was named Kutztown’s Outstanding Senior Citizen in 1998.
Adam was a member of Zion Moselem Lutheran Church, Richmond Township.
Surviving are two sons, Franklin G. Adam, Longswamp Township, and Paul L. Adam, Rockland Township; and three daughters: Catherine R. (Adam) Muth, Longswamp Township; Ruth I. (Adam) Reinhard, Washington Township; and Fern M. (Adam) Kline, Maxatawny Township.
There are also 13 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Harold W. Kreider
Private services and burial were arranged by the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Harold W. Kreider, 67, formerly of North Fouth Street, Hamburg, who died of natural causes Dec. 26 in St. Joseph Medical Center Community Campus, where he had been a patient two days.
He was taken there from ManorCare Health Services, West Reading, where he had resided since Sept. 13.
He was the husband of Betty J. (Werley) Kreider.
Born in West Leesport, he was a son of Mary (Thomas) Kreider, a resident at ManorCare Health Services, Muhlenberg Township, and the late Raymond Kreider.
Until retiring March 1, 997, he was employed as a shipper by Globe Underwear Co., Shoemakersville, for 32 years.
He was a 1953 graduate of Ontelaunee High School.
Kreider was an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 84, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hamburg, for 22 years.
He was a former firefighter with the Leesport Fire Company.
Also surviving are a son, Keith A. Kreider, Exeter Township; a daughter, Stefanie A. (Kreider) Williams, Tilden Township; and one grandson.
There is also a brother, Raymond T. Kreider, Hamburg.
DeLoss Kahl
Private services were arranged by the Ludwick Funeral Home, Kutztown, for DeLoss Kahl, 80, of Moselem Springs Road, Perry Township, who died of natural causes Dec. 23 in Lehigh Valley Hospital, where he had been a patient one day.
He was the husband of Ann P. (Grauert) Kahl.
Born in Akron, Ohio, he was a son of the late DeLoss and Karoline (Strauss) Kahl.
He was the owner/operator of Grauert and Co., Reading, a welding supplier, from 1971 to 1990. He was previously employed as an executive sales engineer for Kimberly and Clark in Massachusetts, and Neenah in Wisconsin.
Kahl was a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he recived a degree in chemical engineering.
He was a World War II Army veteran, receiving the Bronze Star.
Also surviving are three daughters, Carol A. Kahl and Jamie A. Kahl, both of San Francisco, and Paula S. Kahl, Wernersville; and a son, Michael W. Kahl, at home.
There are also two grandchildren.
Gladys I. Berry
Services were held in the Burkey & Driscoll Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Gladys I. Berry, 69, who died of natural causes Dec. 25 in her South Seventh Street, Hamburg residence.
Burial was in Strausstown Union Cemetery .
She was the wife of Jack E. Berry.
Born in Strausstown, she was a daughter of the late Warren and Helen (Potteiger) Henne.
Last working in 2001, she was a co-owner and operator of her family’s business, the Doris Berry Shop, Hamburg.
She was a 1950 graduate of Hamburg High School.
Berry was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hamburg
She was a life master of the American Contract Bridge League.
Also surviving are three daughters, Melanie K. (Berry) Roth and Deena L. (Berry) Kershner, both of Tilden Township; and Lorrene M. (Berry) Mengel, Hamburg.
There are also five grandchildren and a great-grandson.
Other survivors include two brothers, Clifford Henne, Bethlehem, and Carl Henne, Akron, Lancaster County.
L. Benjamin Bucks
Services were held in the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for L. Benjamin Bucks, 85, Indian Manor Drive, Leesport, who died Dec. 28 in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient since Dec. 18.
He was taken to the hospital from Phoebe Berks Health Care Center, Wernersville, where he had been a patient since Dec. 9.
Burial was in Fairview (Belleman’s) Cemetery , Centre Township.
He was predeceased by his wife, Mildred L. (Spatz) Bucks, who died Oct. 24, 1990.
Born in Centre Township, he was a son of the late William B. K. and Mabel M. (Dresh) Bucks.
Until retiring in 1983, he was employed as a tool setter by Western Electric Company, Muhlenberg Township, for many years. He was previously employed by Berkshire Knitting Mills, Wyomissing.
Bucks was a 1935 graduate of Ontelaunee High School.
He was a World War II Army veteran, receiving the Purple Heart.
Bucks was a 50-year member of American Legion Post 732, Bernville.
He was a member of Salem (Belleman’s) Church, Centre Township, where he served as Sunday school teacher for 40 years. He was also the financial secretary of the Lutheran congregation for 36 years.
Surviving are a son, Benjamin A. Bucks, Bern Township, and two grandchildren.
Lillie H. Eiceman
Services were held in the Kirkhoff Funeral Home, Bernville, for Lillie H. Eiceman, 78, Harmony Hill Retirement Home, Tulpehocken Township, who died Dec. 27 in St. Joseph Medical Center, where she had been a patient since Dec. 24.
Burial was in St. John’s (Hain’s) Cemetery , Lower Heidelberg Township.
Born in Wernersville, she was a daughter of the late David and Emma (Haldeman) Koch.
Until retiring in 1985, she had been employed as a sewing machine operator by Gloray Knitting Mill, Robesonia.
Surviving are a daughter, Judy E. (Eiceman) Miller, Bernville; a son, Richard Klinikowski, Reading; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
