Archive for February, 2012
Middle Creek drama, eh?
Although the conditions were sunny at Middle Creek wildlife area last week, the relationship between these two Canada geese was not. The two birds appear to be having a heated discussion as to who was going to have control of this nesting site. The answer is pretty obvious here, eh? (Photos by Stan Hall)Although the conditions were sunny at Middle Creek wildlife area last week, the relationship between these two Canada geese was not. The two birds appear to be having a heated discussion as to who was going to have control of this nesting site. The answer is pretty obvious here, eh? (Photos by Stan Hall)
Posted: February 22nd, 2012 under News.
John Zimmerman, farmer, had 129 great-grandchildren
John A. Zimmerman, 90, of Ephrata, formerly of New Holland, died Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 at Fairmount Homes of natural causes.
Born in Earl Township, he was the son of the late Martin and Susanna (Burkholder) Zimmerman. His first wife, Mary H. (Seibel) Zimmerman, died June 11, 1972 and his second wife, Edna S. (Horning) Zimmerman, died Jan. 15, 2010.
John was a farmer and a member of the Martindale Mennonite Church, Weaverland Conference.
Surviving are 12 children: Leon Zimmerman, of New Holland; Grace, wife of Marvin Zimmerman, of East Earl; Mary Jane, wife of Lee Rhodes, of Patriot, Ohio; Carl, husband of Vera Mae (Martin) Zimmerman, of Richland; Roy, husband of Sara (Burkholder) Zimmerman, of New Holland; John, husband of Cheryl (Weaver) Zimmerman, of East Earl; James, husband of Lillian (Fox) Zimmerman, of Mount Joy; Nancy, wife of Philip Witmer, of Columbiana, Ohio; Nora, widow of Luke Witmer, of Leetonia, Ohio; Paul, husband of Debra (Martin) Zimmerman, of Ephrata; Betty, wife of Ray Horst, of Mifflinburg; and Dale, husband of Joyce (Li) Zimmerman, of Ephrata; 61 grandchildren; 129 great- grandchildren; five sisters: Eva, widow of Paul Martin, of Womelsdorf; Anna, wife of Mervin Horst, of Richland; Esther, wife of Willis Good, of Myerstown; Sarah, wife of Raymond Zimmerman, of Lebanon; and Susan, wife of Paul Martin, of Stevens; a brother: Paul, husband of Lena Burkholder, of Ephrata; and a sister-in-law: Vera Zimmerman, of Stevens.
Posted: February 22nd, 2012 under Obituaries.
Ernest Yeakel, Akron, 90, Sensenig Roofing retiree
Ernest H. Yeakel, 90, of Akron, formerly of Stevens, passed away Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012 at Maple Farm Nursing Center.
He was born in West Cocalico Township to the late Franklin and Amma (Hartranft) Yeakel, and was the husband of the late Alice (Bickhart) Yeakel, who passed away November 1995.
Earnest enjoyed coon hunting, playing cards and camping. He worked for Sensenig Roofing of Ephrata until his retirement in 1983.
Ernest is survived by three sons: Paul E. Rickhart, of Davenport, Fla.; Chester L., husband of Rosie Yeakel, of Ephrata; Ronald R., husband of Barb Yeakel, of Ephrata; five daughters: Sarah J., wife of Robert L. Weitzel, of Denver, Bonnie, wife of Dale Rice, of Lititz, Marion F., wife of Bruce Masternak, of Ephrata, Linda Yeakel, of Stevens, and Teresa Yeakel, of Denver; nine grandchildren; three step-grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; one great-great- grandchild; and two sisters: Florence, wife of Barney Dautrich, of Stevens; and Mary, wife of George Sechriest, of Newmanstown.
His funeral service will be held on Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. at the Roseboro Stradling Funeral Home, 533 Walnut St., Denver, with Rev. Robert Kramer officiating. Interment will follow in the Emanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Brickerville.
Posted: February 22nd, 2012 under Obituaries.
Nellie Whitcraft, 80, EM resident, homemaker
Nellie A. Whitcraft, 80, died unexpectedly Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012 at Lancaster General Hospital.
Born in Circleville, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late John N. and Mildred M. (Karr) Crago. Formerly of New Holland, at the time of her death, she was living at Ephrata Manor. She was married to Robert N. Whitcraft and together they celebrated their 57th anniversary on Dec. 24, 2011.
Nellie was a homemaker and a member of the New Holland Church of the Nazarene. She enjoyed crafts, cooking and baking, but mostly, dedicated her life to her husband and four children.
Surviving in addition to her husband are her four children: Keith R., husband of Vicky (Herrin) Whitcraft, of East Earl; Liana J. Whitcraft, of Ephrata; Brian F. Whitcraft, of New Holland; and John "J.D." Whitcraft, of Ephrata; five grandchildren: Shawn Reich, Derrek Reich, Christiana (Whitcraft) Hess, Chad Whitcraft and Brandon Whitcraft; five great grandchildren: Alexa Hess, Miranda Hess, Owen Reich, Gavin Reich and Hailey Reich; and two sisters: Louise (Crago), wife Ugene Griffith, of Lancaster, Ohio; and Helen (Crago), widow of Francis Crago, now wife of Carl Bobbitt, of Lancaster, Ohio.
Preceding her in death are two brothers: Leslie D. and Francis E. Crago.
Posted: February 22nd, 2012 under Obituaries.
Robert J. Stein Sr., Sheetz supervisor, National Guard
Robert J. Stein Sr., 62, of Lititz, passed away Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 at Hershey Medical Center, Derry Township, Dauphin County.
He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to the late William and Mildred (Flanagan) Stein and was the husband of the late Catherine (Bellinie) Stein, who passed away Sept. 11, 2001.
Robert served in the U.S. Army National Guard and was a member of the Ephrata Amvets Post #136. He was an avid bowler, enjoyed shooting pool, baseball, softball, golfing, loved animals and was a New York Yankee and Giants fan. Robert worked as a shift supervisor for Sheetz Markets in Brownstown from 2007 to present..
Robert is survived by a son: Robert W. Jr., husband of Katherine (Goiens) Stein, of Fort Lewis, Wash.; four daughters: Priscilla, wife of Eugene Patrella, of Lititz, Patricia Stein, fiance of Rick Yanoshik, of McAdoo, and Christine and Carrie Stein, both at home; 10 grandchildren; two brothers: William, husband of Annette Stein, of Arizona; Thomas, husband of Karen Stein, of Lehighton; three nieces; and one nephew.
A viewing will be held on Feb. 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Stradling Funeral Home, 30 N. Ninth St., Akron. An interment service will be held on Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, with full military honors accorded.
Posted: February 22nd, 2012 under Obituaries.
Floyd Stacks, 64, EARS worker, Special Olympian
Floyd A. Stacks, 64, of Reinholds, passed away Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012 at Reading Hospital after a lengthy illness.
Floyd was the son of the late Sefus A. and Mary M. (Connell) Stacks.
Floyd was employed at Ephrata Area Rehab Services (EARS). He was a Special Olympian and won several awards in the 50-yard dash event.
He is survived by a brother: Howard, husband of June Stacks, of Stevens; four sisters: Lillian, wife of William Snyder, of Akron; JoAnn Frey, of Akron; Linda, wife of John Sokol, of Richland; and Glenda Burdine, of York; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received at Paul L. Gravenor Home for Funerals, 100 W. Main St., Ephrata, on Feb. 25. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Robert Hinson officiating. Place of interment will be Memory Gardens, East Cocalico Township.
To offer condolences, visit gravenorhomeforfunerals.com.
Posted: February 22nd, 2012 under Obituaries.
Rev. Robert Smethers Jr., Albright retiree, minister
Rev. Robert S. Smethers Jr. died Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. He was 96 years old and lived at Luther Acres retirement community in Lititz.
His beloved wife of 69 years, Muriel C. Smethers, preceded him in death on Jan. 29, 2009.
He was born in Berwick. Early in life he moved with his parents, Robert and Helen Smethers Sr., and surviving sister, Ines Spangenberg, to Harrisburg. He attended William Penn High School, studied electrical engineering at his alma mater, Penn State University, and received his degree in theology from the Evangelical Seminary at Albright College. Robert and Muriel were married in 1940. Their first assignment was the Evangelical Church in Fleetwood. In 1943 they relocated to Reading where he was the pastor for 11 years at Emmanuel Evangelical United Brethren Church on South Sixth St. In 1954 he joined the administration of Albright College as director of church and public relations and served in various positions until his retirement in 1985. Always an active minister, he supported congregations including Salem United Methodist Church in Rothsville from 1965 to 1987 and West Lawn United Methodist Church near Reading.
Posted: February 22nd, 2012 under Obituaries.
Robert Shirk, 88, Trojan Boat retiree
Robert I. Shirk, 88, of Akron, formerly of Terre Hill, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012 at Ephrata Hospital while with his daughter.
Robert joins his wife of 65 years, Elizabeth (Shilling). Born in New Holland, he was the son of the late Eli and Ruth (Marshall) Shirk.
Robert retired in 1986 from Trojan Boat Co. in Lancaster. He attended Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Philadelphia and was a member of Keystone Senior Citizens and Tioga hunting cabin. He enjoyed traveling, camping and spending time at the Pocono and Tioga cabin.
Surviving are his daughters: Roberta, wife of Jon Winkelspecht, of Akron, with whom he resided; and Elizabeth, wife of Michael Panarella, of Medford, N.J.; two sons: Lance, wife of Sandra (Witmer) Shirk, of Willow Street; and John, husband of Tamara (Heidlauf) Shirk, of Ephrata; 14 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; a brother: Harrison Shirk, of New Holland; and a sister: Ruth Atkinson, of Ephrata.
Preceding him in death are two brothers: Dale and Gilbert.
His funeral was held on Feb. 18 at the Eckenroth Home for Funerals, Terre Hill, with Pastor Russell Rockwell officiating. Interment took place in Terre Hill Cemetery.
Online condolences may be posted at groffeckenroth.com.
Posted: February 22nd, 2012 under Obituaries.
Dorothy Martin, Yorktowneworker, taught Sunday school
Dorothy M. Martin, 86, Ephrata, died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012 in Denver Nursing Home, Stevens, where she was a guest since November.
Born in Richland, Lebanon County, she was a daughter of the late Joel J. and Marianne K. (Graeff) Wiest. Her first husband, Ivan Cochran, died May 10, 1949, and her second husband, Charles E. Martin, died Aug. 7, 1991.
A member and former Sunday school teacher of Muddy Creek Lutheran Church, Swartzville, she worked at Yorktowne Manufacturing, Ephrata. Dorothy enjoyed reading and word puzzles and loved going out to eat and shopping.
Surviving are her son: Burnell I., husband of Clara (Andreadis) Cochran, of Ephrata; grandson: Burnell E. Cochran; and a sister: Hilda I. Alexander, of Ephrata.
She was predeceased by brothers: Warren and Earl Mark Wiest.
Funeral services will be held on Feb. 24 at 11 a.m. at Good Funeral Home, Reamstown, with the Rev. David T. Hinkley officiating. Burial will take place in Muddy Creek Cemetery, Swartzville.
For more information, visit goodfuneral.com.
Posted: February 22nd, 2012 under Obituaries.
Miriam Lausch, Moyer worker
Miriam M. Lausch, 94, of Ephrata, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012 at Ephrata Manor.
Born in Ephrata, she was the daughter of the late Elmer L. and Katie (Steffy) Adams. She was the wife of the late John Stuckey, entered into rest in 1959. She later married Warren E. Lausch Sr. who passed away in 1988.
Miriam was a longtime employee of Moyer Mfg., later Gerber Mfg., of Ephrata. She was a member of Zion’s Reformed United Church of Christ in Lincoln, Ephrata, and of the Lincoln Friendly Circle Club.
She is survived by a son: Warren E. Jr., husband of Dolores (Fryberger) Lausch, of Ephrata; three grandchildren; six great- grandchildren; and eight great-great- grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her infant daughter: Sandra Myers. She was also preceded in death by her three sisters: Stella Burkholder, Dorothy Burkholder and Irene Evans.
Funeral services were held on Feb. 18 at the Donecker Chapel at Ephrata Manor, with the Rev. John C. Miller officiating. Place of interment was Cedar Hill Cemetery, Ephrata.
Donations in Miriam’s memory may be made to Ephrata Manor, 99 Bethany Rd., Ephrata, PA 17522, or to Hospice of Lancaster County, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604.
Posted: February 22nd, 2012 under Obituaries.