Obituaries

Sep 14, 2023

Grace R. (Weaver) Martin, 88, of Ephrata, passed away on September 14, 2023 as a resident of Fairmount Homes.

Born in New Holland, she was the daughter of the late Chester H. and Mattie (Martin) Weaver.

She was the loving wife of the late Elmer E. Martin, with whom she shared sixty-five years of marriage...

Sep 13, 2023

Merrilynn Edith (Brown) Wheeler, age 71, went home to be with our Lord on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. She had a massive brain hemorrhage, which rendered her unconscious within a few minutes. She never regained consciousness, and passed away about 19 hours later. Death is always difficult for those of us, who are left behind, but in her case...

Sep 7, 2023

Pamela Marie Kempfle

Pamela Marie Kempfle (Shirk), 75, died at Garden Spot Village on September 7, 2023, after a valiant battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Born and raised in New Holland, she was the daughter of Robert S. Shirk and Ruth E. Brendle Shirk. Pam was a 1966 graduate of Garden Spot High School where she...

Sep 5, 2023

Quentin David Rissler, 53, of East Earl, passed away on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, following an illness of three and half months.

He was married to Darlene Fay Horning Rissler with whom he shared 31 wonderful years of life with.

Born in Ephrata, he was the son of Floyd...

Sep 4, 2023

Ralph Y. Clair, 81, passed away and went home to be with his Lord and Savior on September 4, 2023. He was a resident of Garden Spot Village in New Holland, PA.

Born in Brooklyn on September 15, 1941 and raised in New Hyde Park, NY, he was the son of the late William Irvin and Alice...

Sep 4, 2023

Rachael M. Freed, 81, of Reinholds, passed away at her home on Monday, September 4, 2023. Her husband of 62 years, Henry W. Freed, survives.

Born in Lancaster County, she was the daughter of the late Emmanuel and Rachel (Martin) Martin.

Rachael was a homemaker who cherished her family and was...

Sep 3, 2023

Charles G. Nemec, Jr., 90, passed away on September 3, 2023 at Garden Spot Village where he lived as a resident for 18 years. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carolyn Ford Nemec and two daughters: Tracy Heim (Jeffery) of West Chester, PA and Tara Evans (Scott) of St. Louis, MO. Chuck also had four grandchildren:...

Sep 3, 2023

Douglas L. Hackman, 81, of New Holland, passed away on September 3, 2023, at home.

Born in Lititz, he was the son of the late Homer F. and Thelma (Pfautz) Hackman.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon (Reinbold) Hackman, with whom he shared 50 wonderful years of marriage. In addition to his to his...

Sep 2, 2023

Lester E. Martin passed away at Ephrata Manor on September 2, 2023, at the age of 90. He was the husband of the late Arlene M. (Horning) Martin, who died May 1, 2021.

Born in New Holland, he was the son of the late Clarence and Edna (Hollinger) Martin.

Lester started...

Sep 1, 2023

Wayne S. Baum, 62, of Leola, passed away unexpectedly on September 1, 2023 in his residence.

Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late Wayne H. and Dorothy K. (Shuman) Baum.

He was the loving husband of Brenda L. (Bowman) Baum, with whom he married on August 8, 1981 and shared forty two...

Sep 1, 2023

Robert “Bob” Newswanger, 93, a resident of Fairmount Homes, was called home by his Lord and Savior on Friday, September 1, 2023.

He was the husband of the late Elva M. Martin Newswanger who died September 4, 2022. Born in Ephrata, he was the son of the late Amos and Lydia Reinhart Newswanger.

Early in...

Aug 31, 2023

Gary Stephen Kuhl, 75, of Cumru Township, passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 31st, 2023.

Born in Newark, NJ, he was the son of the late James and Catherine (Brown) Kuhl.

He was the loving husband of Bette Joan (Beaver) Kuhl, with whom he married on January 7, 1989 and shared thirty four...

Aug 31, 2023

Frank Herbert Hoover, 92, of Gordonville, passed away on August 31, 2023, at home.

Born in Gap, he was the son of the late Frank W. And Eva M. (Clark) Hoover.

He was the loving husband of June (Siedhof) Hoover, with whom he married on January 29, 1955, and shared 68 years of marriage.

Aug 28, 2023

Thelma E. Garber, 81, was carried to heaven by the angels on Monday, August 28, 2023 at the Glen, Willow Valley Retirement Community surrounded by her family. She was born on January 7, 1942 in Lancaster to the late Elias B. and Kathryn (Kreider) Esbenshade. She was the beloved wife of Kenneth B. Garber, celebrating 61 years of marriage...

Aug 25, 2023

Sanford L. Martin, 77, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2023, at Wyomissing Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was formerly of Ephrata.

Born on June 9, 1946, he was the son of the late Walter S. and Clara (Zimmerman) Martin.

He is survived by one daughter, Heather Diener (late John), grandson...

Aug 25, 2023

Abram S. Zeiset, 91, of Chestertown, MD went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, August 25, 2023. He was the husband of Sara E. (Martin) Zeiset for 68 years. Born July 25, 1932, Abe was the son of the late Martin M. and Martha M. (Sensenig) Zeiset.

Surviving in addition to his...

Aug 25, 2023

Lee H. Overly, 90, of New Holland, died Friday, August 25, 2023, at Lancaster General Hospital. His wife of 65 years, Lauraine (Miller) Overly, survives.

Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late Leroy Overly and Irma (Hillard) Overly.

Most of his life, he was employed at Liberty Mobile...

Aug 23, 2023

Mildred C. Grubb (nee Freeman), 93, of New Holland, formerly of Glenolden, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at Garden Spot Village.

Born in Ridley Park, PA she was the daughter of the late Henry B. and Harriet R. (Rodenbaugh) Freeman.

After graduating from Glen-Nor, Class of '47, Millie went to work at...

Aug 23, 2023

Joseph “Poppy” Appenzeller, 72, of Ephrata, died Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at Lebanon Veterans Memorial Hospice Center.

Joseph was the most loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Patricia, daughters Angel and Rhonda, grandchildren Ashley, Allaura, Tesla, Kody, Kyle and Tyler, along with seven great-grandchildren, and his faithful dog...

Aug 21, 2023

Charles Longenecker, 91, passed away on August 21, 2023 at Landis Homes in Lititz. He was the son of the late Elam Bender Longenecker and Florence Brubaker Longenecker. He was born and raised on a farm, bordered by big Chiques creek, in Rapho Township in Lancaster County. The youngest of 5 children, he was preceded in death by Thelma,...