Obituaries by LocationHess, Bruce Robert
03/21/2004
Bruce Robert Hess, 47, of 312 Northside Road, Elverson, died unexpectedly March 21 at his home of natural causes. Born in Ephrata, he was the son of Thomas R. and Betty Shirk Hess of Elverson. Hess graduated from Twin Valley High School and has worked for over 25 years at West Philadelphia Machine Works Inc. in Elverson where he currently has been serving as Vice President and Shop Foreman. He enjoyed Ice Hockey and served as Assistant Coach for Pottstown Penguins Bantam "A" Team and also as Head Coach for the Owen J. Roberts Middle School "A" Team. He was also a life member of the Elverson Fire Company. Surviving in addition to his parents is a daughter, Emily Anne Hess of Pottstown; and a son, Riley Robert Hess of Pottstown. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 27 at 10:30 AM at the Groff-High Funeral Home, 145 W. Main St., New Holland, PA with the Reverend Susan Fox officiating. Interment will be in the Caernarvon Cemetery, Morgantown. Friends may call on Saturday from 9 to 10:30 AM at the Funeral Home.
Keene, Barry J.
04/05/2004
BARRY J. KEENE, 51, of 22 Charles Place, Brownstown, PA, formerly of Pottstown, PA, died Monday, April 5, 2004 at his home of cancer after being a three-time cancer survivor. Mr. Keene graduated from Pottsgrove High School in 1970 and also attended West Chester State University. From 1974 until January 2004 he worked as an Engineering Systems Technician for High Steel Structures in Lancaster, PA. He celebrated 25 years of marriage on November 18 to Paula Sheetz Keene. Born in Pottstown, He was the son of Beryl Freeman Keene of Pottstown and the late Daniel Keene. He was a member of the St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Pottstown. In high school he played football and tennis. At one point he played 72 hours for the Jerry Lewis Telethon. He enjoyed boating and was the captain of the Sea Angel at North East, MD; computers; and bicycling, which he rode over 12,000 miles per year. Surviving in addition to his wife and mother is two brothers, David S., marriage
to Sherry Delucia Keene of Barto, PA, and Scott S., marriage to Carol Patten Keene of Lynfield; and a sister, Dr. Candace Keene of Rockland, ME; 11 nieces and nephews; and five great nieces and nephews. Relatives and Friends are respectfully invited to attend a memorial service at St. Stephen United Church of Christ, 249 E. Main St., New Holland, PA, on Thursday, April 8, 2004 at 11 AM with the Reverend Ann T. Few officiating. Friends may call at Church on Thursday from 10 AM until the time of the service. Contributions may be made in his memory to Hospice of Lancaster County, PO Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125 or to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, 1221 S. Mopac, Suite 320, Austin, TX 78746. Arrangements are with the Groff-High Funeral Home, New Holland.
Keenen, Donald W.
03/13/2004
DONALD W. KEENEN, 70, of 2207 Harmony Hill Drive, Lancaster, formerly of New Holland for 8 years, died Saturday, March 13, 2004 at his home after a brief illness while under the care of Hospice of Lancaster County. Mr. Keenen worked from 1972 until 1996 as a maintenance mechanic for Penn Dairies of Lancaster, now Kemps Foods Inc. Formerly he worked for other machine shops. A 1954 graduate of McCaskey High School, he was a member of Summit View Church, New Holland and formerly a member of Mt. Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, Neffsville. At Summit View Church he served on the hospitality committee, was an usher, greeter, mowed the church grounds, and was a substitute Sunday School Teacher. He was also a retired member of the Teamsters Local #771. He enjoyed hunting, golf, camping, traveling in his camper, and loved his family, and coaching soccer. He also served as staff sergeant in the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict from 1954 - 1958 as a Jet Engine Mechanic. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late William A. and Helen Frank Keenen. He celebrated his 10th wedding anniversary on November 29 to Judith A. "Judy" Aller Keenen. Surviving in addition to his wife are two daughters, Pamela L., marriage to Robert Kiskaddon of Lititz, Denise C. Charles of Lancaster; two step daughters, Kimberly F. Nippes marriage to Andy Lewis of Strasburg, CO, and Holly J. Martinez of Wilmington, Del.; 9 grandchildren; one great granddaughter; a sister, Jean, marriage to Allen Lowe of Lancaster; and a brother Glen E., marriage to Arlene Sauder Keenen of Lancaster. Relatives and Friends are respectfully invited to attend a Celebration of Life Memorial Service at the Summit View Church, 846 Peters Road, New Holland, on Tuesday at 6 PM with the Reverend Douglas P. Sider, Jr. and the Reverend Robert Verno officiating. Interment will be in Laurel Hill Memorial Garden at the family's convenience. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the Church. Kindly omit flowers. Contributions may be made in his memory to the Summit View Church, 846 Peters Road, New Holland, PA 17557, or to Navajo Missions, PO Box 1230, Farmington, NM 87499 or to Hospice of Lancaster County, PO Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125. Arrangements are with the Groff-High Funeral Home, New Holland.
Kraybill, Wilmer G.
04/08/2004
Wilmer G. Kraybill, 83, of Elverson, PA died of natural causes on Thursday afternoon at the Landis Homes Retirement Community, Lititz, where he resided for the past 15 months. He operated a dairy farm in southern Berks County since 1962. Earlier he had farmed near Lampeter and prior to that near Mount Joy. In his retirement he owned and operated U-GO-Amigo and sold mobility scooters for the disabled. He was a member of the Hopewell Christian Fellowship where he served as a trustee for many years and founded the Senior Citizens Fellowship. Born in West Donegal Twp., he was the son of the late Martin Rutt and Suie (Garber) Kraybill. His first wife Helen Brubaker Kraybill died in 1998. He was also preceded in death by a daughter Rosene, an infant son James, and an infant sister, Arlene Kraybill. He was instrumental in starting the Mennonite Central Committee's annual Heifer Sale in 1981 to support world relief and refugee ministries. The annual sales have raised some 1.4 million dollars for relief work. A long time supporter of Mennonite Central Committee programs, he was a member of its Relief Sales Board. He helped to establish the Hopewell Mennonite Sharing Plan and was a representative of the Brotherly Aid Auto Liability Plan. He also served as a member of the Berks County Agricultural Extension Board and the Caernarvon Twp. Planning Commission in Berks County. He received awards for soil conservation and outstanding corn production. Surviving are is his second wife, Rachel Kraybill; a daughter, Dorcas marriage to Douglas Hutton of Baltimore; two sons, Mark B. marriage to Ferne Ruth Kraybill of Elverson and Donald B. marriage to Frances Mellinger Kraybill of Elizabethtown; a foster son John Wiggins of Reading; six grandchildren; two sisters: Maribel Kraybill of Lititz and Jean marriage to Norman Shenk of Mount Joy; and two brothers, Simon marriage to Mary Jean Sherer Kraybill of Elizabethtown and Nevin marriage to Barbara Keener Kraybill of East Earl. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral from the Landis Homes West Bethany Chapel, 1001 E. Oregon Rd., Lititz, PA on Monday at 10 AM with Pastor Mark Nicolas and Chaplain Mary Yunginger Rittenhouse officiating. Interment in Kraybill Mennonite Cemetery, Mount Joy. Friends may call at Landis Homes West Bethany Chapel on Sunday from 6 to 8 PM and on Monday from 9 to 10 AM. Kindly omit flowers. If desired, memorial contributions may be sent to Mennonite Central Committee, designated for World Relief Ministries, P. O. Box 500, Akron, PA 17501. The Eckenroth Home for Funerals, Terre Hill is in charge of arrangements.
Martin, Minister Phares W.
03/28/2004
Minister Phares W. Martin, 93, of 219 Cats Back Rd., Ephrata, formerly of 4924 Division Hwy., East Earl, PA died Sunday evening at Fairmount Homes following a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edna M. (Zimmerman) Martin in 2001. Born in Caernarvon Twp., he was the son of the late George S. and Annie (Weaver) Martin. A retired farmer, he had also served as a minister in the Weaverland Conference since 1955. He was a member of the Weaverland Mennonite Church, Weaverland Conference. Surviving are four daughters: Mary marriage to Daniel B. Horning, Myerstown; Ruth Burkholder and Kathryn marriage to Clarence K. Martin, both of Ephrata; and Irene marriage to E. Earl Hurst, Newmanstown; a son, Nevin Z. marriage to Esther W. (Martin) Martin, East Earl; 13 grandchildren and 45 great grandchildren. Also a sister, Mary W. Hurst, Lititz. He was preceded in death by two sons: Nelson and Leroy; two grandsons; a brother, John W. Martin; and four sisters: Fannie Weaver, Lizzie Hoover, Annie Nolt, and Lydia Sensenig. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral from the Fairmount Home Wheat Ridge Chapel on Friday at 9 AM with further services at 9:30 AM at the Weaverland Mennonite Church with Bishop Amos G. Martin, Ivan B. Hurst, Amos K. Martin, and Paul R. Martin officiating. Interment in the adjoining church Cemetery. Friends may call at the Fairmount Homes Wheat Ridge Chapel on Thursday from 2 to 4 PM and 6 to 8 PM. Kindly omit flowers. The Groff-High Funeral Home, New Holland is in charge of arrangements.
Petersheim, Betty Lou
03/15/2004
BETTY LOU PETERSHEIM, 71, of 168 Laurel Road, East Earl, PA, died of cancer Monday morning, March. 15, 2004 at Landis Homes while under the care of Hospice of Lancaster County. Mrs. Petersheim held various administrative responsibilities at Tel Hai Retirement Community in Honey Brook from 1973 - 1993 when she retired as Administrator for Health Care. More recently, she worked at Friendship Community, Lititz as Respite Care Coordinator. Mrs. Petersheim, a registered nurse, graduated from the Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital in Johnstown in 1953. She and her husband lived in Tanzania, East Africa as fraternal workers with the Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions along with their family from 1960 - 1970. She was a member of the Forest Hills Mennonite Church and Adelphian Sunday School class. She served as an elder just prior to her illness. Born in Johnstown, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Robert E. and Katie Blough Wingard. She was marriage 50 years on November 21st to Leroy K. Petersheim. Surviving in addition to her husband is a son, Jon Robert, marriage to Susan marriage to Linford Good of Mount Joy, and Anna Ruth, marriage to Edward Gawlinski of Horsham, PA; five grandchildren; a sister, Grace, marriage to Paul Yoder Sr. of Harrisonburg, VA; and a brother, Carl, marriage to Jean Mishler Wingard of Morgantown. Preceding her in death is a sister, Ethel Weaver; and two brothers, Glenn and Freeman Wingard. Relatives and Friends are respectfully invited to attend a memorial service at Forest Hills Mennonite Church, 100 Quarry Road, Leola, on Saturday, March 20 at 3:30 PM with the Reverend Calvin Yoder and the Reverend Robert L. Petersheim officiating. Interment will be in Pine Grove Cemetery. Friends may call at Church on Saturday. from 2:30 PM until the time of the service and also in the fellowship hall following the service. Kindly omit flowers. Contributions may be made in her memory to Hospice of Lancaster County, PO Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125. Arrangements are with the Eckenroth Home for Funerals, Terre Hill, PA.
Rutt, Ruth I.
03/14/2004
Ruth I. Rutt, 86, of 1001 E. Oregon Rd., Lititz, PA, formerly of New Holland, PA died Sunday evening at Lancaster General Hospital following a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilmer M. Rutt in 2000. Born in Goodville, she was the daughter of the late John Jacob and Bessie Eliza (Frankhouser) Stauffer. A graduate of the former New Holland High School, class of 1936, she was employed by a local silk mill and hosiery mill in the New Holland area for four years. She was then a homemaker until she moved to Landis Homes. She was a member of Bridgeville Evangelical Congregational Church, Narvon. Surviving are two daughters: Wilma L. marriage to Walter M. Shirk, Jr., Lititz and Christine R. marriage to Robert W. Schmitz, Sykesville, MD; three grandchildren: Tina Bevan, Tricia Bevins, and Timothy Shirk; one step-granddaughter, Jeannette Schmitz; two great-grandchildren, Nicholas Bevan and Jenna Bevan; and a sister, Clara E. Stauffer, Lititz. She was preceded in death by two sisters: Marguerite Gehman and Evelyn Stauffer. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral from the Landis Homes East Bethany Chapel, 1001 E. Oregon Rd., Lititz, PA on Wednesday at 11 AM with the Rev. Bruce Wagner, Chaplain Donald Good, and Chaplain Mary Yunginger Rittenhouse officiating. Interment in Bridgeville Cemetery. Friends may call at the Landis Homes East Bethany Chapel on Wednesday from 10 to 11 AM. If desired, memorials may be sent to the Caring Fund of Landis Homes, 1001 E. Oregon Rd., Lititz, PA 17543. The Groff-High Funeral Home, New Holland is in charge of arrangements.
