Edith C. Machemer
Services were held in the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Centerport, for Edith C. Machemer, 93, Main Street, Centerport, who died March 24, 2002 in Berks Heim, where she had resided since January 1989.
Burial was in Fairview (Belleman’s) cemetery, Centre Township.
She was predeceased by her husband, James I. Machemer, who died July 24, 1984.
Born in Wyomissing, she was a daughter of the late Samuel and Amanda (Boyer) Dunkelberger.
She was a member of the Lutheran congregation of Salem (Belleman’s) Union Church, Centre Township.
Surviving are two sons, Richard J. Machemer and David A. Machemer, and a daughter, June R. (Machemer) Riegel, all of Centerport.
There are also two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Alma S. (Dunkelberger) Blatt, Grabill, Ind.
Amanda M.E. Kantner
Among the local survivors of Amanda M.E. Kantner, 26, Reading, who was pronounced dead March 27, 2002 in her Reading residence by the Berks County Coroner’s office, is her paternal grandparents, Leonard and Josephine (Debkowski) Siekierka, Mohrsville.
Margaret L. Conner
Services were held in Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Margaret L. Conner, 90, formerly of Leesport, who died March 25, 2002 in Phoebe Berks Health Care Center, Inc., Wernersville, where she had resided since 1994.
She had previously resided at the Highlands at Wyomissing since 1989.
Burial was in Leesport cemetery.
She was predeceased by her husband, William R. Conner, who died June 3, 1998.
Born in Leesport, she was a daughter of the late Paul Hertzog and Stella (Loose) Hertzog Rothenberger.
She was a 1929 graduate of Ontelaunee High School and a 1932 graduate of the Reading Hospital School of Nursing.
Until her retirement, she was employed for many years as a registered nurse at Reading Hospital.
Conner was a member of Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, Leesport.
Surviving is a daughter, Nancy L. Conner, Haverford, Montgomery County, and a stepbrother, Lee Rothenberger, Albrightsville, Carbon County.
Mary L. Derr
Among the local survivors of Mary L. (Althouse) Derr, 91, Exeter Township, who died March 25, 2002 in Mifflin Center, Cumru Township, where she had resided five days, is a brother, Samuel B. Althouse, Leesport.
Luther H. Yoder
Services were held in the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Luther H. Yoder, 69, Valley Court, Tilden Township, who died March 26, 2002 in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient two days.
Burial was in Berks County Memorial Gardens, Maidencreek Township.
He was the husband of Sarah E. (Beissel) Yoder.
Born in Upper Tulpehocken Township, he was a son of the late John and Alice (Stoudt) Yoder.
Until retiring in 1991, he was employed as a machinist by NGK Metals Inc., Muhlenberg Township, for 36 years.
Yoder was a Navy veteran and a member of the United Church of Christ congregation of Salem (Belleman’s) Union Church, Centre Township.
Also surviving are two sons, Gary L. Yoder, Reading and Craig Yoder, Terre Hill, Lancaster County, and two daughters, Virginia (Yoder) Gray, West Reading and Vicki (Yoder) Stoudt, Columbus, Ohio.
Other survivors include two stepdaughters, Linda L. (Stichter) Becker, Bern Township, and Nancy J. (Stichter) Lisa, Shoemakersville, and three stepsons: Thomas E. Stichter, Tilden Township, Kenneth G. Stichter, Mohrsville; and Russell W. Stichter Sr., Hamburg.
There are also 18 grandchildren; 15 step grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and 16 step great grandchildren.
Also surviving is a sister, Frieda (Yoder) Berger, Shartlesville.
He was predeceased by a stepdaughter, Anne M. (Stichter) Wagner, who died in 1991.
Evelyn B. Hess
Services were held in the Auman Funeral Home, Reading, for Evelyn B. Hess, 85, formerly of Shillington and Hamburg, who died March 29, 2002 in ManorCare Health Services Inc., Spring Township.
Burial was in St. Paul’s (Smoke) cemetery, Hamburg.
She was predeceased by her husband, Harrison A. Hess, who died Jan. 23, 1985.
Born in Grill, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Edna (Reigner) Boone.
Until retiring in 1963, she was employed as a retail clerk for the former Whitner’s Department Store for seven years.
Hess was a member of the Assembly of God Church, Wyomissing.
Surviving are a son, Terry P. Martz, Reading; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Other survivors include a sister, Sally (Boone) Mill, Tallahassee, Fla., and two brothers, Luther Rauch, Temple, and Arthur Rauch, Mohnton.
Harold W. Kreider
Private services and burial were arranged by the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Harold W. Kreider, 67, formerly of North Fouth Street, Hamburg, who died of natural causes Dec. 26, 2002 in St. Joseph Medical Center Community Campus, where he had been a patient two days.
He was taken there from ManorCare Health Services, West Reading, where he had resided since Sept. 13.
He was the husband of Betty J. (Werley) Kreider.
Born in West Leesport, he was a son of Mary (Thomas) Kreider, a resident at ManorCare Health Services, Muhlenberg Township, and the late Raymond Kreider.
Until retiring March 1, 997, he was employed as a shipper by Globe Underwear Co., Shoemakersville, for 32 years.
He was a 1953 graduate of Ontelaunee High School.
Kreider was an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 84, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hamburg, for 22 years.
He was a former firefighter with the Leesport Fire Company.
Also surviving are a son, Keith A. Kreider, Exeter Township; a daughter, Stefanie A. (Kreider) Williams, Tilden Township; and one grandson.
There is also a brother, Raymond T. Kreider, Hamburg.
Neil P. Malone
Among the local survivors of Neil P. Malone, 60, Lehigh County, who died of natural causes Dec. 23, 2002 in Lehigh Valley Hopital, where he had been a patient since Nov. 22, is a daughter, Lynn V. Malone, Hamburg.
DeLoss Kahl
Private services were arranged by the Ludwick Funeral Home, Kutztown, for DeLoss Kahl, 80, of Moselem Springs Road, Perry Township, who died of natural causes Dec. 23, 2002 in Lehigh Valley Hospital, where he had been a patient one day.
He was the husband of Ann P. (Grauert) Kahl.
Born in Akron, Ohio, he was a son of the late DeLoss and Karoline (Strauss) Kahl.
He was the owner/operator of Grauert and Co., Reading, a welding supplier, from 1971 to 1990. He was previously employed as an executive sales engineer for Kimberly and Clark in Massachusetts, and Neenah in Wisconsin.
Kahl was a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he recived a degree in chemical engineering.
He was a World War II Army veteran, receiving the Bronze Star.
Also surviving are three daughters, Carol A. Kahl and Jamie A. Kahl, both of San Francisco, and Paula S. Kahl, Wernersville; and a son, Michael W. Kahl, at home.
There are also two grandchildren.
Gladys I. Berry
Services were held in the Burkey & Driscoll Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Gladys I. Berry, 69, who died of natural causes Dec. 25, 2002 in her South Seventh Street, Hamburg residence.
Burial was in Strausstown Union cemetery.
She was the wife of Jack E. Berry.
Born in Strausstown, she was a daughter of the late Warren and Helen (Potteiger) Henne.
Last working in 2001, she was a co-owner and operator of her family’s business, the Doris Berry Shop, Hamburg.
She was a 1950 graduate of Hamburg High School.
Berry was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hamburg
She was a life master of the American Contract Bridge League.
Also surviving are three daughters, Melanie K. (Berry) Roth and Deena L. (Berry) Kershner, both of Tilden Township; and Lorrene M. (Berry) Mengel, Hamburg.
There are also five grandchildren and a great-grandson.
Other survivors include two brothers, Clifford Henne, Bethlehem, and Carl Henne, Akron, Lancaster County.
Lindy J. McAllister
Among the local survivors of Lindy J. McAllister, 74, West Reading, who died Dec. 24, 2002 in the Lebanon Veterans Administration Hospital, where he had been a patient since Dec. 13, are three daughters, Bonnie (McAllister) Roeder and Lani McAllister, both of Shoemakersville, and Kim (McAllister) Keys, Mohrsville; and two sisters, Sally (McAllister) Manbeck and Verna (McAllister) Noecker, both of Bethel.
Frederick D. Shade
Among the local survivors of Frederick D. Shade, 89, Temple, who died Dec. 22, 2002 in ManorCare Health Services, Muhlenberg Township, where he had resided since Dec. 12, is a sister, June (Shade) Schappell, Shoemakersville.
Karen S. Pagano
Among the local survivors of Karen S. (Reisenweaver) Pagano, 54, Northampton County, who died Dec. 26, 2002 in St. Luke’s Hospital, is a brother, Robert Reisenweaver, Leesport.
