OBITUARIES

Dec 2, 2018

Bruce T. Schutt April 28, 1956 – December 2, 2018 Whether it was keeping his sons up late perfecting the grammar in their school papers, or digging into a soon-to-be Eagle Scout’s board of review, Bruce Schutt could not be rushed. So it’s no wonder that he delayed a terminal prognosis for 17 years while he inspired others and...

Nov 30, 2018

Raylene M. Ballard (Mrs. Peter Grazer), 63, of Kutztown, passed away on Friday evening, November 30, 2018 at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, PA. Born February 12, 1955 in Mechanicsburg, PA, she was the daughter of Raymond C. Ballard and the late Janice M. (Givler) Ballard. She and her husband of 39 years, Peter P. Grazer, were married on...

Nov 29, 2018

Oliver J. Long, Jr., 85, of Catasauqua, passed away on Thursday, November 29, 2018 at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Muhlenberg, Bethlehem, PA. Born August 10, 1933 in Wilson, he was the son of the late Florence (Meyers) and Oliver J. Long Sr. He and his wife of 56 years, Dolores J. (Graybill) Long, were married on February 3, 1962...

Nov 23, 2018

Robert A. Kramer Jr., 59, of Blandon, passed away suddenly on Friday, November 23, 2018, at his home. Born October 18, 1959 in West Reading, he was the son of the late Irene J. (Shearer) and Robert A. Kramer Sr. Robert spent many years working in retail sales and in management, first at John Wannamakers, then continuing at Bonton...

Nov 21, 2018

Thelma Irene Zeiner, wife of Earl E. Zeiner for 64 1/2 years labored to take her last breath on Wednesday evening, November 21, 2018 at 8:50 pm at the Topton Lutheran Home with her daughters, Lydia and Yvonne, son Daryl and husband, Earl, by her side, having fought Alzheimer’s for four and a half years and a broken right...

Nov 20, 2018

Herman O. Himmelberger, 79, of Ruscombmanor Township, passed away on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at Reading Hospital. Born September 13, 1939 in Molltown, he was the son of the late Herman and Thelma (Mull) Himmelberger. He and his wife, Rachel O. (Ostrander) Himmelberger would have celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary on Thanksgiving. Herman served his country honorably and faithfully...

Nov 15, 2018

Victoria J. (Cutlip) Roland, 49, of Lower Alsace Township, passed away on Thursday morning, November 15, 2018 at Berkshire Center, Exeter Township. Born December 6, 1968 at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, she was the daughter of Robert E. Cutlip Sr. and Jean L. (Kreider) Dierolf. Vickie was a manager in automotive marketing for AMCI, Los Angelas, CA. She...

Nov 11, 2018

Dorothy Mae “Dottie” (Gross) Zorn, 89, of Kutztown, passed away on Sunday, November 11, 2018. Born May 3, 1929 in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Sella L. (Jewitt) Dissinger and Raymond Gross. She and her husband of 62 years, Richard S. “Stu” Zorn, were married on October 6, 1956 in Zion Lutheran Parsonage, Philadelphia. Dottie was...

Oct 25, 2018

Bonnie E. (Strauss) Caples, 75, of Richmond Township, passed away suddenly on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at Penn State Health, St. Joseph Medical Center, Bern Township. Born February 18, 1943 in Reading, she was the daughter of the late Byron and Doris (Buckwalter) Strauss. Bonnie worked for 29 years as a departmental assistant, for GPU, then First Energy, Reading....

Oct 20, 2018

Esther May (Moyer) Wanner, 87 entered into eternal life on October 20, 2018 at Keystone Villa in Blandon. Born in Richmond Township, she was the daughter of the late Herbert and Florence (Mertz) Moyer. She was the husband of Lee Wanner with whom she shared 68 years of marriage in Fleetwood until their move to the Villa. Esther was an...

Oct 18, 2018

Damian Zakai Fantauzzi, infant son of Shaqua J. Allen and Raymond A. Fantauzzi, passed away suddenly on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018 at Reading Hospital. In addition to his Mommy and Daddy, Damian is survived by his sister, Angelina, and his grandparents, Tamara Allen and Gilbert Gonzalez, Linda Hernandez, Elizabeth Fantauzzi and Raymond Fantauzzi. Walbert Funeral Home & Cremation Services,...

Oct 18, 2018

Ray L. Weller, 73, of Hamburg, passed away on October 18, 2018 at Berks Heim.

Born October 13, 1945 in Reading, he was the son of the late Ray Y. and Frances M. (Gerth) Weller.  He and his wife of 38 years, Jean L. (Krug) Weller were married on July 28, 1980.

Ray served his...

Sep 30, 2018

Harvey L. Schaeffer, 95, of Blandon, passed away on Sunday, September 30, 2018 at his home. Born February 13, 1923 in Wernersville, he was the son of the late Rueben and Edna (Dundore) Schaeffer. He and his bride of 41 years, Gloria M. (Schade) Schaeffer, were married on August 15, 1977 in Elton, Maryland. Harvey served his country honorably...

Sep 15, 2018

Theodore Kelip Bauer, infant son of Patrick S. and Denetra L. (Gerberich) Bauer, passed away suddenly on Saturday, September 15, 2018. In addition to his Mommy and Daddy, he is survived by his brothers, Patrick and Timothy, his sisters, Tia and Katelynn, and by his paternal grandmother Doris Bauer. Walbert Funeral Home & Cremation Services, PC, Fleetwood, is honored to...

Sep 13, 2018

John V. Kleinhenz, 50, of Maidencreek Township, passed away suddenly on Thursday, September 13, 2018 in Albany, NY while traveling on business. Born October 2, 1967 in Neptune, NJ, he was the son of the late John and Louise (Desrosiers) Kleinhenz. He and his wife, Brenda D. (Eister) Kleinhenz celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary on September 5, 2018. John...

Sep 13, 2018

Catherine J. (Blankenhorn) Nester, 81, of New Ringgold, went home to be with Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior, on Thursday evening, September 13, 2018. Born July 13, 1937 in Schuylkill Haven, she was the daughter of the late Alice (Long) and Irvin Blankenhorn Sr. Her husband of 44 years, Ray A. Nester, Sr., passed away on September 30,...

Sep 9, 2018

Ronald L. “Ronnie” Bortz Jr., 36, of Kutztown, passed away suddenly on Sunday, September 9, 2018 at Reading Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Born July 16, 1982 in Allentown, he was the son of Cathy R. (Peters) and Ronald L. Bortz, Sr., Kutztown. Ronnie worked for many years in landscaping. He loved fishing, playing pool and bowling. He...

Sep 7, 2018

Mary K. (Keim) Sears, 94, of Churchville, formerly of Boyertown, Fleetwood and Topton, passed away surrounded by her family on Friday evening, September 7, 2018 at Attleboro Nursing Home, Langhorne. Born October 22, 1923 in Gablesville, Mary was the daughter of the late Milton and Clara (Erb) Keim. Her husband of 61 years, John F. Sears, passed away on...

Sep 2, 2018

Scott A. Blankenbiller, 59, of Bowers, passed away suddenly on Sunday, September 2, 2018 at his home. Born July 28, 1959 in Reading, he was the son of Barbara (McDonough) and Stanley “Chet” Blankenbiller, West Lawn. He and his wife of 38 years, Pauline D. (Beck) Blankenbiller, were married on July 12, 1980. Scott was a self-employed auto mechanic...

Sep 1, 2018

Gustave L. Stein, 71, of Kutztown, passed away on Saturday, September 1, 2018 in Weatherly, PA. Born September 17, 1946 in Allentown, he was the son of the late Gustave and Mary (Riecica) Stein. He and his wife of 34 years, Annette M. (Dietrich) Stein, were married on July 21, 1984 in Greenwich Township. Gus spent many years farming....