Obituaries
Obituaries Week of February 18, 2010
Feb 19, 2010 - 10:09:49 AM

Leon R. Bowersox Jr.
    Leon R. Bowersox Jr., 52, of Penns Creek, went to be with the Lord he loved on Monday morning, Feb. 15, 2010, from injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident on Route 104 in Limestone Township, Union County.
    He was born May 27, 1957, in Lewisburg, a son of Leon R. Bowersox Sr., of Middleburg, and the late Elma (Maneval) Bowersox. On May 31, 1975, he married the former Debra A. Keister, who survives.
    Leon attended Middleburg High School with the Class of 1975.
    His entire working life was spent at the Watsontown Brick Co., where he was a fork lift operator at the time of his passing.
    He was an active member of Port Ann Wesleyan Church and the Wesleyan Men of the church. He and his wife had been the custodians of the church for many years.
    Leon was an avid fisherman and especially enjoyed fishing with his grandchildren. He was a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and NASCAR, with Carl Edwards as his favorite driver. Leon loved his family and cherished his grandchildren.
    In addition to his wife of nearly 35 years and his father, he is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Tina M. and Franklin Snyder Jr., of Washingtonville, and Jennifer J. Keister, of Penns Creek; 11 grandchildren, Kelly, Kimberly, Byron Jr. and Alex Weaver and Amber, Amanda, Adrienne, Ashlynn, Gordon, Jordon and Jacob Keister; one sister, Shirley Gaugler, of Middleburg; and three brothers, William Bowersox, of Selinsgrove, and John and Dale Bowersox, both of Middleburg.
    There will be no viewing. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Thurs., Feb. 18, at Port Ann Wesleyan Church, Troxelville Road, where the funeral will follow at 11 with Pastor Paul K. Sheets officiating.
    Burial will be in Troxelville Union Cemetery.
    Contributions in Leon’s memory may be made to the memorial fund established in his name at Port Ann Wesleyan Church, 2856 Troxelville Road, Middleburg, PA 17842.
    Arrangements are by the Hummel Funeral Home, 574 Hill St., Middleburg.

Helen Irene Brouse
    Helen Irene Brouse, 89, formerly of 105 Shipton Street, Mifflinburg from 1972 to 2008, and a resident of RhodesMere Assisted Living, Lewisburg, since 2008, entered into rest at 1:10 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, at SUN Home Hospice Care Center, Sunbury.
    She was born Aug. 18, 1920, in Mifflinburg, a daughter of the late Edward R. and Annie J. (Klingman) Dietrich. On Dec. 11, 1944, in Northumberland, she married Harold B. Brouse who preceded her in death on Sept. 13, 2008.
    Helen was a 1939 graduate of Mifflinburg High School.
    She was an active lifetime member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, Cowan.
    She enjoyed cooking, gardening, canning foods, and sewing.
    She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Gary E. and Ann G. Brouse, of Horseheads, N.Y., and Donald C. and Joanne Brouse, of Rockford, Mich.; one daughter and son-in-law, Carol S. and Richard L. Worley, of Elizabethtown; two granddaughters, Meredith E. Zurin, of Manheim, and Dana Brouse, of Rockford; two great-grandchildren, Katlyn and Riley Zurin, of Manheim; and one sister, Mary Alice Dietrich, of Mifflinburg.
    In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one brother, John Dietrich.
    Visitors may call from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 18, at Cowan Trinity Lutheran Church, 2599 Church Road, Mifflinburg, where the funeral will be conducted at 2:30, with the Rev. James H. Gold, officiating.
    Burial will be in the Mifflinburg Cemetery.
    Memorial contributions may be made in Helen’s memory to either the SUN Home Health Services, 260 Reitz Blvd, Suite 5, Lewisburg, PA 17837, or the Trinity Lutheran Church, 2599 Church Road, Mifflinburg, PA 17844.
    Funeral arrangements are by Roupp Funeral Home, Inc., 8594 Old Turnpike Road, Mifflinburg.

Kenneth Sidney Catherman
    Kenneth Sidney Catherman, 86, of 225 E. Chestnut St., Mifflinburg for 57 years, entered into rest at 4:45 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010, at 201 Meadow Lark Lane, where he had resided with his daughter for the past two years.
    He was born Sept. 8, 1923, in Hartleton, a son of the late Harry and Mamie (Dorman) Catherman. On Feb. 23, 1947, in Lewisburg, he married the former Dorothy M. Farley who preceded him in death on Oct. 28, 2004.
    Ken attended the Hartley Township schools. Ken honorably served in the Army during World War II.
    He owned and operated Catherman’s Floor Sanding, Mifflinburg, for 30 years, and Runamed Sales, a wholesale distributor, Lewisburg, for many years.
    He was a lifelong member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mifflinburg, a 50 year member of the Free and Accepted Masons Lodge 370, Mifflinburg, a member of the Williamsport Consistory, Sunbury Shrine Club, and Dallas Irem Temple.
    Ken enjoyed woodworking and making wooden crafts for family and friends.
    He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth Lee and Sue Catherman, of Corpus Christi, Texas; one daughter and son-in-law, Shirley M. and Jerry D. Haines, of Mifflinburg; two sisters, Thelma Pontius, of Hartleton, and Mildred Keister, of Lewisburg; six grandchildren and their spouses, Michael and Angela Haines, of Mifflinburg, Tammy and Ross Moore, of Wilmington, N.C., Neil Lindeen, of Corpus Christi, Dawn Lindeen, of Seattle, Wash., Jared Haines, of Mifflinburg, and Matthew Catherman, of Corpus Christi; and nine great-grandchildren.
    He was preceded in death by one brother, Stanley Catherman.
    Visitors are welcome from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Roupp Funeral Home, Inc., 8594 Old Turnpike Road, Mifflinburg,   from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Thurs. Feb. 18, where the funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m., with the Rev. James Rill, officiating.  
    Burial will be in the Hartleton Cemetery, with military honors by the Mifflinburg American Legion Post 410.
    In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ken’s memory to either the Evangelical Community Hospital, 1 Hospital Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837, or the SUN Home Health Services, 260 Reitz Blvd., Suite 5, Lewisburg, PA 17837.

Chester R. Koonsman
    Chester R. Koonsman, 62, of 107 S. Apple St., Lewisburg passed away on Friday, Feb. 12, 2010, at the Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.
    He was born Nov. 29, 1947, in Lewisburg, a son of the late Ray R. and Ethel V. (Dorman) Koonsman. He and his wife of 40 years, the former April M. Showers, were married on April 26, 1969.
    After graduating from Mifflinburg High School in 1966, Chet served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War where he was injured in the line of duty.
    After the service he worked for the former D.O.W., plumbing and heating contractor in Lewisburg. He then became self-employed and started his own plumbing business, working in the Lewisburg area until 1999.
He attended Christ Wesleyan Church in Milton. Chester was a member of the Lewisburg Memorial Post 7715 Veterans of Foreign Wars, Montandon.
    Chester enjoyed hunting and fishing in years gone by.
    In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Michael R. and Tammy R. Koonsman, of Northumberland; one sister and brother-in-law, Janet and Donald Wolfe, of New Berlin; and three grandchildren, Katie, Cheyenne and Aaron.
    In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Bill Koonsman, and one sister, Leona Oldt.
    Funeral services were held Wed., Feb. 17,  at Cronrath-Grenoble Funeral Home, South Second and St. Louis Streets, Lewisburg. Pastor Bud Rutherford of the Christ Wesleyan Church, Milton officiated.
    Burial with full military honors followed in the Lewisburg Cemetery.
    Memorial contributions in Chester’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, Union County Unit, 57 Reitz Blvd., Lewisburg, PA 17837.

Mary Catherine Maurer
    Mary Catherine Maurer, 95, of 525 Vine St., New Berlin, entered into rest on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, at 11:40 a.m. at her residence, following an illness of the past four months. She had resided at her present address since 1946 and prior to that resided on Water Street, New Berlin.
    She was born Nov. 4, 1914, in Jackson Township, Snyder County, a daughter of the late Elmer Conrad and Grace Ella (Maurer) Leiby. She was united in marriage on Jan. 13, 1932, in New Berlin, by the late Rev. Herbert B. Zechman, to George Benjamin Maurer, who preceded her in death on Sept. 20, 1962.
    She attended the Independent School, RR 1, Winfield.
    Mary was employed by Moyer’s Pleasant View Egg Farm, RR1 Winfield, from 1962 to 1981. In recent years she was a homemaker.
    Mary was a lifetime member of Emmanuel United Church of Christ, New Berlin, a member and former treasurer of the adult Sunday school class, and a life member of the New Berlin Heritage Assoc. She was an avid, well known area quilter, enjoyed playing cards, and was devoted to the family pet cat, Annie.
    She is survived by seven children and their spouses, Marvin D. and Carrol L. Maurer, of New Berlin, Elmer C. and Joan E. Maurer, of Winfield, Robert H. and Doris D. Maurer, of Mifflinburg, Ernest C. and Carmen D. Maurer, of New Berlin, Dale E. and Kathleen S. Maurer, of Lewisburg, Mary K. and Harry T. Yost, of New Columbia, and Martha G. and William S. Hockenberry, of Mifflinburg; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; one great-great-grandson; three siblings, Malcolm D. Leiby, of Lewisburg, Margaret E. Trawitz, of New Berlin, and Marion F. and George E. Mull, of Winfield; and numerous nieces and nephews.
    She was preceded in death by one sister, Grace Ellen Ulrich, and three brothers, Alvin C., Roy E., and George W. Leiby.
    A life celebration to honor Mary Catherine was held Sat., Feb. 13, at the Emmanuel United Church of Christ, 326 Market St., New Berlin. The Rev. Dr. Gary E. Hackenberg, Interim Pastor of the church, officiated.     Inurnment will be made in the New Berlin Cemetery.
    Memorials in memory of Mary may be made to the Memorial Fund of the Emmanuel United Church of Christ, 326 Market St., New Berlin, PA 17855.
    The family was served by Schwartz-Adamo Funeral and Cremation Service, 247 Chestnut St., Mifflinburg.

Marlin Russell Pardoe
    Marlin Russell Pardoe, 91, of 212 Yarger Road, Lewisburg died Thursday morning, Feb. 11, 2010, at the Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg.
    A native of Union County, he was born in Lewisburg on Sept. 19, 1918, a son of the late Raymond W. and Alma (Hamler) Pardoe. He was married to the former Ida Duke and his death breaks a marital union of 69 1/2 years.
    Marlin was a graduate of Lewisburg High School.
    He was a veteran of World War II serving with the 229th Field Artillery Battalion of the Army in the European Theater.
    Marlin had worked for the Dreisbach Hardware in Lewisburg and then 13 years for Coles Hardware as manager and was owner/operator of the Mifflinburg Hotel for five years.
    He was a member of the First Nazarene Church in Mifflinburg, enjoyed bowling, woodworking, gardening, playing shuffleboard, and making wooden toys.
    In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son, Larry R. Pardoe of Danville and his girlfriend, Diane Mench of Danville; and one grandson, Gavin T. Pardoe of Winfield.
    Funeral services were held Mon., Feb. 15,  at the John H. Shaw III Funeral Home, Market and Eighth streets, Lewisburg. His pastor, the Rev. Wayne Krell, officiated.
    Burial with military services provided by Lewisburg area veterans was in Lewisburg Cemetery.
    The family asks that donations in Marlin’s memory be made to: The American Heart Assoc., 1704 Warren Ave., Williamsport, PA 17701, the American Cancer Society, 1948 E. Third St., Williamsport, PA 17701, or to the First Church of the Nazarene, 12 E. Market St., Mifflinburg, PA 17844.

Carl Cloyd Yost
    Carl Cloyd Yost, 73, of 206 Cherry Street, Mifflinburg, went home to be with His Lord at 1:55 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010, suddenly and unexpectedly at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.
    He was born Dec. 4, 1936, at Geisinger, a son of the late Cloyd A. and Maud V. (Blouch) Yost. He was united in marriage on June 17, 1961, at the Mifflinburg Church of the Nazarene by the Rev. Fred D. Pick to the former Nancy A. Duke. Together, they shared 48 years of memories.
    Carl was a tool salesman and the owner of Yost Supplies; he was known as the “Nut & Bolt Man” in the area. Prior to his tool business, Carl was a truck driver.
    Mr. Yost was a 46-year member of the Mifflinburg Church of the Nazarene and was active as an usher and a counter.
    He enjoyed watching movies, playing cards, spending time with his family and listening to “The American Storyteller.”
    In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Mark C. and Sharon R. Yost of Chambersburg; two daughters and one son-in-law, Judy A. and David A. DeVolld of Mount Vernon, Ohio, Carla S. Myers and her significant other, Joe L. Sawyer of Muncy; seven grandchildren, Madison N. Yost of Chambersburg, Noah C. Yost of Chambersburg, Corey R. DeVolld and his wife, Jessica of Las Vegas, Nev., Caleb D. DeVolld of Mount Vernon, Ohio, Cody E. DeVolld of Mount Vernon, Ohio, Levi S. Myers of Muncy, Hannah R. Myers of Muncy; one great-granddaughter, Natalie S. DeVolld of Las Vegas; one sister, Morita J. Yost of Lewisburg; one brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Marjorie Yost of Lewisburg; nieces; and nephews.
    He was preceded in death by one sister, Charlotte Hauck.
    The funeral was held Mon., Feb. 15, with the Rev. Wayne S. Krell, pastor of the Mifflinburg Church of the Nazarene, officiating.
    Internment was in Chestnut Hills Cemetery, Winfield.
    Memorial contributions in Carl’s memory can be sent to, Mifflinburg Church of the Nazarene, 12 E. Market St., Mifflinburg, PA 17844.
    Funeral arrangements are by the John H. Shaw III Funeral Home, Market and Eighth streets, Lewisburg.

Dorothy Jane Zimmerman
    Dorothy Jane Zimmerman, 90, of 364 Mill St. since 1954, entered into rest at 11:55 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010, at her home.
    She was born Jan. 27, 1920, in Vicksburg, a daughter of the late Ruben R. and Cora E. (Oister) Zimmerman. In 1939, she married Alvin Luther Zimmerman, who preceded her in death Sept. 9, 2000.
    Dorothy attended Reed’s School and Mifflinburg High School.
    She was employed at Huntingdon Throwing Mills and Sterling Throwing Mills, Mifflinburg, the Lewisburg Chair Factory and Par-Knit, Mifflinburg, as a store manager, retiring in 1982.
    She attended Christ Community Church, Glen Iron.
    Dorothy enjoyed making lap robes, bath robes, slippers and bed jackets for residents at local nursing homes. She also made blankets for her grandchildren.
    Surviving are two daughters and one son-in-law, Beverly Z. Brouse of Milton, and Dawn M. and Donald E. Campbell of Mifflinburg; one son, Edward L. Zimmerman and his companion, Connie D. Boyer, of Mifflinburg, and Connie’s family; one sister, Pauline Walters, of Vicksburg; five grandchildren, Rhonda Artley and husband Jeff, Kelly Clark and husband Jim, Troy Campbell and wife Jen, Dwayne Zimmerman and wife Lori, and Shannon Heavner and husband Fred; 13 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Clarence, Lester and Robert Zimmerman, two sisters, Helen Zimmerman and Rosella Keister, and one son-in-law, George F. Brouse.
    Funeral services were held Mon., Feb. 15,  at the Roupp Funeral Home Inc., 8594 Old Turnpike Road, Mifflinburg. Pastor Ricky Phillips officiated.
    Burial was in Buffalo Valley Church of the Brethren Cemetery, Mifflinburg.
    Memorial contributions may be made in Dorothy’s memory to Evangelical Hospice, 1 Hospital Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837.
    The Zimmerman family would like to give a special thank you to C.R.I., Evangelical Hospice, Dorothy’s private caretakers, and her hair stylist, Teresa Shuck.

Janet Ann Edwards
    Janet Ann Edwards, 66, of 902 Mountview Road, entered into rest at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010, at Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village, Lewisburg, where she was a guest for several days. She had been seriously ill for seven weeks.
    She was born Sept. 21, 1943, in Williamsport, Lycoming County, the daughter of the late Earl Eugene and Gladys Evelyn (Menken) Young. She was united in marriage on June 18, 1966, in Mifflinburg United Methodist Church by the Rev. Dr. Grantas E. Hoopert to John A. Edwards, who survives.
    Jan was a graduate of Mifflinburg Area High School, Class of 1961, and a graduate of Shippensburg University, Class of 1965, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in education.
    Jan began her teaching career in the Central Dauphin School District in 1966. Her next teaching opportunity was in the Prince George’s County School District in Maryland. The last 25 years of her teaching career were in the Mifflinburg Area School District. During her extensive teaching career, many lives were touched.
    She was a member of Mifflinburg United Methodist Church and the Herr Memorial Library Board of Directors and served numerous years on the Mifflinburg Borough Planning Commission.
    Jan enjoyed spending time with her family and her many friends.
    In addition to her husband of 43 years, she is survived by two children and their spouses, Matthew J. and Josalyn M. Edwards, of Raleigh, N.C., and Elizabeth E. “Betsy” and Adam T. Shipton, of Harrisburg; one grandson, Logan Matthew Edwards, of Raleigh; one brother and sister-in-law, Earl Eugene II and Cynthia Johnson Young, of Brandon, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
    A celebration to honor Jan’s life was held Mon., Feb. 15, in Mifflinburg United Methodist Church, 279 Market St. Her pastor, the Rev. Ronald A. Warfle, officiated. A private inurnment was in Hill Top Cemetery, Mifflinburg.
    Memorials honoring Jan may be sent to Kelsey’s Dream, c/o Mifflinburg Bank & Trust Co., 250 E. Chestnut St., Mifflinburg, PA 17844.
    The family was served by the Schwartz-Adamo Funeral and Cremation Service, 247 Chestnut St., Mifflinburg.

Oliver Ward “Ollie” Hummel
    Oliver Ward “Ollie” Hummel, 78, of 8175 Route 304 since 1977, entered into rest at 5:25 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.
He was born Aug. 18, 1931, in New Berlin, a son of the late Lloyd C. and Alverta (Beaver) Hummel. On June 12, 1953, at Messiah Lutheran Church, New Berlin, he married the former Mary C. Schrader, who survives.
He served in the Army during the Korean War from Sept. 19, 1950, until his honorable discharge Sept. 18, 1953.
Ollie was employed for 38 years at Pennsylvania House, Lewisburg, until his retirement in 1990.
    He was a member of Sharon Lutheran Church, Selinsgrove, and a lifelong member of both the William Cameron Engine Company, Lewisburg, and the New Berlin Fire Company, where he served as deputy chief and fire chief, respectively.
    Ollie received the solid gold drop from the American Red Cross for his generous and devoted blood donations. He enjoyed steam engines, trains and bowling.
    In addition to his wife of 56 years, he is survived by three sons and one daughter-in-law, Oliver Daniel Hummel and his partner, Stanley Reed, of New York City, Jeffrey S. and RuAnn Hummel, of Lewisburg, and David W. Hummel, of Mifflinburg; one daughter and son-in-law, Robin A. and Keith Kunkel Jr., of Selinsgrove; one brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Nancy Hummel, of New Berlin; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Laura and Harold Erdley Sr., of New Berlin, and Miriam and Eugene Keister, of New Berlin; two grandchildren, Jeffrey A. and his wife, Aislinn Kunkel, of Selinsgrove, and Isaac A. Kunkel, of Selinsgrove; and one great-granddaughter, Morgan Scarlett Kunkel, of Selinsgrove.
    He was preceded in death by one brother, John Hummel; one sister, Helen Renninger; and one grandson, Zachary A. Kunkel.
    Funeral services were held Fri., Feb. 12, at Sharon Lutheran Church, 120 S. Market St., Selinsgrove. The Rev. MarthaSue Moll officiated. Burial will be in New Berlin Cemetery.
    Memorial contributions may be made to the William Cameron Engine Company, P.O. Box 606, Lewisburg, PA 17837, or the New Berlin Fire Company, 415 High St., New Berlin, PA 17855, or the American Diabetes Association of Pennsylvania, 3544 N. Progress Ave., Suite 103, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
    Funeral arrangements were by the Roupp Funeral Home Inc., 8594 Old Turnpike Road, Mifflinburg.


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