Obituaries by LocationJames Wagner
James L. Wagner, 83, of West Caracas Avenue, Hershey, died Sunday, June 6 in Integrated Health Services of Hershey at Woodlands.
He was a retired Army master sergeant; a former coordinator with the state Department of Public Welfare; a former member of Troop C, Governor's Troop, 104th Cavalry; past commander of the 104th Cavalry Veterans Association, past commander of Mechanicsburg American Legion Post 109; past president of Mechanicsburg Lions Club; and a member of First United Methodist Church of Hershey, Hershey Lions Club, Highspire High School Alumni Association and Fort Indiantown Gap Retiree Council.
He is survived by his wife, Mildred I. Lenker Wagner; two daughters, Jan Galloway of Harrisburg and Virginia Welsh of Hershey; a son, Earl B. Hoffman Jr. of Harrisburg; two sisters, Ann Hammond of Lancaster and Mary Vlahos of Saltsburg; a brother, The Rev. William of Mount Joy; and five grandchildren.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in his church. Burial
will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
Viewing will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday in the church.
Knight Funeral Home, Highspire, is handling arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to University of Pennsylvania Hospital for kidney, heart and eye research, 400 Penn Tower, 399 S. 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Anita Rodriguez
Anita J. Rodriguez, 44, of North Pine Street, Middletown, died Saturday, June 5 at home.
She attended First Church of God, Middletown, and was active in Sunshiners Work Night and VIM of the church.
She is survived by her mother, Betty J. Assad, with whom she lived; and a sister, Juanita J. Bailey, wife of Clair James Bailey of Lower Swatara Township.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in her church. Burial will be in Highspire Cemetery.
Viewing will be from 9:30 to 11 a,m, Thursday in the church.
Knight Funeral Home, Highspire, is handling arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to her church, 245 West High Street, Middletown, PA 17057.
William Cleland Sr
William E. Cleland Sr., 55, of Penn Street, Royalton, died Monday, June 7 in Hershey Medical Center.
He was a retired employee of Asplundh Tree Expert Company, Mechanicsburg, and was a member of Rescue Hose Co., Middletown.
He is survived by a son, William E. Jr., with whom he lived; two daughters, Lori Fornwalt of Middletown and Rachell L. Dunn of Reading; his mother, Stella M. Snyder Cleland; six brothers, Oliver S. Jr., LeRoy P. and Barry R., all of Middletown, George M. of Royalton, Harry R. of Steelton and Alfred of Highspire; four sisters, Mary Stauffer of Royalton, Delores Vulatic of Londonderry Township, Esther Alleman of Hummelstown and Tina Cleland of Middletown; and three grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Frank E. Matinchek & Daughter Funeral Home, Middletown with The Rev. David L. Trostle, pastor of Emmanuel United Methodist Church, Royalton, officiating. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to time of services Thursday at the funeral home.
Mattilee Dagen
Mattilee M. Dagen, 87, formerly of South Cedar Street, Lititz, died Sunday, March 21, at Brethren Village of natural causes. She had lived there since 1992 and was under a doctor’s care.
She was marriage to the late Edward Lefever Dagen for 59 years. He died on November 17. 1991.
Born in Moore’s Store, VA in 1911, she was the fourth of 13 children of Jacob Stover Messick and Sarah Alice Long Messick. Curiously, all 13 children had the initials of MMM. In 1920, the Messick family settled on a farm near Middletown, PA.
During her lifetime she worked at various shoe and dress factories. In her earlier years, she enjoyed crocheting, quilting, sewing, crafts, traveling and caring for her grandchildren Amanda, Stephanie and Rob.
Mrs. Dagen was a member of Middle Creek Church of the Brethren. In 1988, she and her husband were accepted as emeritus deacons by Middle Creek for their many years of faithful service to Swatara Hill, Ephrata, and Middle Creek Church of the Brethren congregation.
She is survived by two daughters, Nancy A. Dagen, Lancaster and Linda A. Dagen, Lititz; one son, Edward L. Dagen, husband of Tina Mummau Dagen, Manheim; and three grandchildren.
She is also survived by four brothers, Merville M. Messick, husband of Betty, Lancaster, Marlin M. Messick, husband of Gladys, Mahlon M. Messick, husband of Helen, Mylin M. Messick, husband of Doris, all of the Middletown area; three sisters, Miriam M. Aldinger, Lancaster, Margaret M. Zell, wife of Bruce Zell and Mildred M. Risser, both of Hummelstown.
She was preceded in death by one sister, Marie M. Myers, and four brothers, Marvin M. Messick, Milford M. Messick, Miller M. Messick and Melvin M. Messick.
Arrangements were handled by the Gundel Funeral Home, Lancaster, PA.
Wilbur Peiffer
Wilbur E. "John" Peiffer, 79, of Maple Street, Middletown, died Tuesday, March 23 in IHS of Hershey at the Woodlands.
He was retired from the former Navy Ships Parts Control Center, Hampden Twp.; was a Navy veteran of World War II; and a member of St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elks Lodge 1092 and Prince Edwin F&AM Lodge, all of Middletown.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie D. Livingston Peiffer; two sons, Dr. John T. of Littlestown and Gary L. of Highland Falls, NY; three brothers, Harry W. and Warren C., both of Londonderry Twp., and Aaron M. Jr. of Middletown; and two grandchildren.
Services will be held at the convenience of the family with The Rev. Dr. J. Richard Eckert officiating. Burial will be in Middletown Cemetery.
The Frank E. Matinchek & Daughter Funeral Home, Middletown, handled arrangements.
