Obituaries by LocationHelen M. Koch
Private services were arranged by the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Helen M. Koch, 89, formerly of North Third Street, Hamburg, who died Dec. 27 in Laurel Center Genesis Elder Care, Tilden Township, where she had been a resident since April 1997.
Burial was in St. Michael’s Cemetery , Tilden Township.
She was predeceased by her husband, John W. Koch, who died April 14, 1995.
Born in Tilden Township, she was a daughter of the late John K. and Florence S. (Savage) Meck.
She was a member of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Tilden Township.
Surviving are several neices and nephews.
Lorraine B. Bare
Ex-Penn Twp. tax collector
Services were held in the Kirkhoff Funeral Home, Bernville, for Lorraine B. Bare, 90, formerly of Mount Pleasant, who died Dec. 29 in Stone Ridge Village Health Center, Myerstown, where she had resided for more than four years.
Burial was in Epler’s Church Cemetery , Bern Township.
She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph L. Bare, who died Jan. 31, 1975.
Born in Elizabeth, N.J., she was a daughter of the late James and Nellie (Bunnell) Schoonover.
Until retiring in 1985, she had been employed as a tax collector in Penn Township for 17 years.
She was a former Democratic chairlady in Berks County and a former officer of the Travelor’s Protective Association Auxiliary.
Bare was a member of Bern United Church of Christ, Bern Township.
Surviving are a son, Eugene R. Bare, Cincinnati, Ohio; three step-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.
There is also a sister, Eleanor (Schoonover) Gardner, Temple.
She was predeceased by a daughter, Linda Bare, who died in 1954.
Gladys E. Smith
Services were held in the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Gladys E. Smith, 81, formerly of North Third Street, Hamburg, who died Dec. 29 in Schuylkill Center, Pottsville, where she had resided three years.
Burial was in Zion’s Cemetery , Perry Township.
She was the wife of Roland B. Smith Sr., Reading.
Born in Alexandria, Va., she was a daughter of the late Milton E. and Eunice (Johnson) Lovelace.
She was a member of Hamburg Seventh-day Adventist Church, Tilden Township.
Surviving are two sons, Roland B. Smith Jr., Reading, and Kenneth W. Smith, Bern Township; and two daughters, Susan K. Smith, Hamburg, and Polly A. (Smith) Schneider, Pottsville.
There are also 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Other survivors include a brother, William E. Lovelace, LaMarida, Calif.
Catherine J. Smith
Services were held in the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Catherine J. Smith, 57, First Street Extension, Tilden Township, who died of natural causes Dec. 28 in Reading Hospital, where she had been a patient since Dec. 12.
Burial was in Fairview (Belleman’s) Cemetery , Centre Township.
She was the wife of Donald L. Smith.
Born in Shenandoah Heights, Schuylkill County, she was a daughter of the late Charles E. and Dorothy M. (Shistel) Moyer.
Until retiring Dec. 23, 1994, she was employed as a nurse’s aide at the Hamburg Center for 28 years.
She was a member of Salem (Belleman’s) Church, Centre Township.
Also surviving are two daughters, Kaylynn Smith, Hamburg, and Donelle L. Smith, Tilden Township, and one granddaughter.
Other survivors include two sisters, Earlene C. (Moyer) Kieffer, Fleetwood, and Sharon L. (Moyer) King, Shoemakersville; and three brothers, Ronald C. Moyer and Eugene M. Moyer, both of Reading, and Donald Moyer, Newport News, Va.
Robert C. Heck
Services were held in the Kirkhoff Funeral Home, Bernville, for Robert C. Heck, 72, who died of cancer Dec. 29 in his Main Street, Leesport, residence.
Burial was in Bern Cemetery , Bern Township.
He was the husband of Linda J. (Keller) Heck. His first wife, Irene G. (Hettinger) Heck, died July 27, 1992.
Born in Mount Pleasant, he was a son of the late Isaac and Dorothy (Stump) Heck.
He had been employed as a distributor by Good’s Potato Chips and Heck’s Snacks for 35 years. In addition, he operated stands at the Leesport Farmer’s Market for 20 years and markets in Exeter Township and West Lawn for two years.
Prior employment included owner/operator of Heck’s Feed Mill, Leesport, and as a private coal hauler and egg delivery man for local farms.
Heck was also a bartender for the Leesport Fire Company and St. Marco Society, Temple, for 15 years, last working in 2000.
He was a newspaper carrier for the Reading Times and also distributed the Reading and Northern Berks Merchandiser in Leesport and Bern Township for 10 years.
Heck was a trustee and life member of the Leesport Fire Company and was a former captain of the fire police for five years.
He was also a life member of the Strausstown Rod and Gun Club and the Rehrersburg Fire Company.
Heck was a member of Bern Lutheran Church, Bern Township.
Also surviving are a son, Dennis L. Heck, Hamburg; and three stepdaughters: Debra (Rollman) Deisher, Mohrsville; Tina (Brown) Graeff, Bernville; and Tanya (Brown) Belinda, Fleetwood.
There are also two grandchildren, 10 step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren.
Molene B. Rothermel
Services were held in Pleasant Union Church, Lillington, N.C., for Molene B. Rothermel, 84, Tobias Lane, Bern Township, who died Dec. 30 in Reading Hospital, where she had been a patient for three days.
Burial was in the church Cemetery .
She was predeceased by her husband, Marshall Rothermel, who died June 1, 1999.
Born in Lillington, she was a daughter of the late John C. and Bessie (Johnson) Brown.
She was a graduate of Lillington High School and a member of Pleasant Union Christian Church, Lillington.
Surviving are a daughter, Donna F. (Rothermel) Koch, Bernville; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Other survivors include a brother, Tommy Brown, Lillington; and two sisters, Mary L. (Brown) Tudor, Angier, N.C., and Louise (Brown) Lancaster, Fayetteville, N.C.
The Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, West Reading, was in charge of arrangements.
Esther L. Homan
Services were held in the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Esther L. Homan, 96, formerly of State Street, Hamburg, who died Dec. 31 in the Topton Lutheran Home, where she had resided since March 19, 1997.
Burial was in St. John’s Cemetery .
She was predeceased by her husband, Chester Homan, who died Dec. 3, 1963.
Born in Hamburg, she was a daughter of the late Robert T. and Katie E. (Folk) Koller.
She and her husband were the owners/operators of Homan’s IGA Store and Post Office, Virginville, for 19 years. After closing the store in 1962, she was assistant postmaster and postmaster until retiring.
Homan was a 65-year member and past matron of Blue Mountain Chapter 443 Order of Eastern Star, Hamburg, and was past noble grand of Clementine Rebekah Lodge 571, Hamburg.
She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hamburg.
Robert L. McCall
Services were held in the chapel of Mount Hope Cemetery , Penn Hills, Allegheny County, for Robert L. McCall, 42, who was pronounced dead Dec. 30 as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning in his Five Points Road, Bethel Township residence.
His death was attributed to fumes from a kerosene heater inside his garage, and a certificate of accidental death has been issued.
Born in Pittsburgh, he was a son of David L. and Dolores (Schwatz) McCall, Slippery Rock, Butler County.
He was a 1978 graduate of Lebanon High School.
McCall was employed as a mechanic by Flying Hills Golf Course.
He was a Navy veteran.
Also surviving are a sister, Kathryn (McCall) Weir, New Sewickley Township, Allegheny County.
The Richland Funeral Home, Lebanon, was in charge of arrangements.
Wayne O. Zerbe, 83
Services were held in the Hill Funeral Home, Rehrersburg, for Wayne O. Zerbe, of Walnut Street, Strausstown, who died Nov. 9 in the emergency room of Pottsville Hospital.
Burial was in Christ (Little Tulpehocken) Cemetery , Jefferson Township.
He was predeceased by his wife, Lela E. (Krause) Zerbe, who died March 17, 1992.
Born in Upper Tulpehocken Township, he was a son of the late Raymond C. and Mary M. (Binner) Zerbe.
Until retiring in 1984, he was employed as a bender by Hofmann Industries, Sinking Spring, for 33 years. He was previously employed by Anthony’s Hosiery Co., Strausstown, for 18 years. Zerbe was employed part-time by J.M. Fence & Deck Co., Mohrsville.
Surviving is a son, Dennis R. Zerbe, Frystown, and two grandsons.
Other survivors include four sisters: Irene M. (Zerbe) Hiester, a resident at ManorCare Health Services, West Reading; Betty L. (Zerbe) Spengler, Lansing, Mich.; Shirley A. (Zerbe) Batz, Frystown; and Barbara E. Zerbe, Strausstown.
George W. Shirey Jr., 71
Services were held in the Hill Funeral Home, Rehrersburg, for George W. Shirey Jr., of Old Mountain Road, Bethel Township, who died of natural causes Nov. 11 in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient three weeks.
Burial was in Altalaha Church Cemetery , Rehrersburg.
He was the husband of Idalene M. (Brown) Shirey.
Born in Strutters, Ohio, he was a son of Naomi (Howell) Shirey, New York City, and the late George W. Shirey Sr.
Until retiring in 1999, he was employed in truck repair by the Parish Structural Products Division of Dana Corp., Reading, for 21 years.
He was a Korean War Marine Corps veteran.
Also surviving are a daughter, Denise M. (Shirey) Heckrote, Palmyra, Lebanon County; and four sons: George W. Shirey III, Womelsdorf; John P. Shirey and David L. Shirey, both of Bethel; and Paul E. Shirey, Shillington.
There are also eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a brother, David Shirey, New York City.
