Obituaries

Nov 15, 2018

William A. Vargo, 94, of Zionsville, died Nov. 15, 2018 in Lehigh Valley Hospital.  He was the husband of Rose M. (Schmaldinst) Vargo.  Born in Bethlehem, he was the son of the late Joseph and Bertha (Posh) Vargo.  He was a 1942 graduate of Emmaus High School.  Bill worked for Bethlehem Steel, Firestone Tire, and retired in...

Nov 11, 2018

Lynda L. Kapec-Bortz, 69, of Alburtis.  Died Nov. 11, 2018 in her residence surrounded by family.  She was the wife of Jeffrey A. Bortz.  Born in Elwood City, PA, she was the daughter of the late Louis and Ida (Gaal) Kanzleiter.  She was a graduate of Riverside High School and attended Point Park College.  Lynda was a...

Nov 4, 2018

Claire C. Dronetti, 88, of Emmaus, passed away Nov. 4, 2018 in Lehigh Valley Hospital.  Born in West Hazleton, she was the daughter of the late John J. and Susan (Zoscin) Pollock.  Her husband of 43 years, Michael R. Dronetti, died July 25, 1993.  Claire was employed by Alto Trucking Company as a bookkeeper for 3 years, and then...

Oct 22, 2018

Johanna K. Green, 82, of Emmaus, died Oct. 22, 2018 in Lehigh Valley Hospital.  Born in Emmaus, she was the daughter of the late Andrew and Anna (Janenko) Kotch.  She was a graduate of Central Catholic School.  Johanna worked for Leh's Department Store and later worked as a secretary for Mack Trucks and retired in 2007 from...

Oct 21, 2018

Amelia A. Grim, 51, of Center Valley, died Oct. 21, 2018 while battling cancer in Lehigh Valley Hospital.  She was the wife of Michael S. Grim.  Born in the Philippines, she was the daughter of Dr. Emelita A. Ayos and the late Dr. Danilo P. Ayos.  She honorably served her country in the U.S. Marine Corps from...

Oct 17, 2018

Thaddeus G. Durback, 81, of Macungie, died Oct. 17, 2018 in Lehigh Valley Hospice.  He was the husband of Kathleen C. (Swank) Durback.  Born in Emmaus, he was the son of the late Elizabeth (Labanz) and John Durback, Sr.  He honorably served his country in the Navy from 1955 to 1959 and played in the US Navy...

Oct 8, 2018

Richard B. Wieand, 89, of Emmaus, died Oct. 8, 2018 in Lehigh Valley Hospital.  He was the husband of Judith M. (Underwood) Wieand.  Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late Albert B. and Katherine (Smith) Wieand.  Dick was a 1946 graduate of Emmaus High School, serving as class president and a 1950...

Oct 7, 2018

William M. Ryan, 86, of Allentown, died Oct. 7, 2018 in Luther Crest.  He was the husband of Emilie A. (Van Billiard) Ryan.  Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late Violet A. (Wert) Ryan and the late Merritt C. Ryan.  He honorably served his country in the Army during the Korean Conflict.  He graduated from Ryder...

Oct 5, 2018

Glen A. Acker, 37, of Emmaus, died Oct. 5, 2018.  Born in Allentown, he was the son of Scott A. Acker and Carolyn A. (Page) Bunting.  He worked as a cook for The Shelby and formerly at Bethlehem Brew Works.

Glen is survived by his father, Scott A. Acker and wife Susan; mother, Carolyn A. wife of...

Oct 2, 2018

Robert V. Reckmack, 79, of Slatington, formerly of Emmaus, died Oct. 2, 2018 in St. Luke's Hospital, Palmerton.  Born in Danbury, CT, he was the son of the late Raymond V. and Claire E. (Neimeyer) Reckmack.

Bob is survived by his many Merakey Family members and friends.  He was predeceased by his brother, Dennis M. Reckmack.

Sep 28, 2018

Kathy DeLong, 75, of Allentown went to heaven peacefully on September 28, 2018. She was the wife of Robert DeLong.  Born in Allentown, PA she was the daughter of Clark Seng and step-daughter of Madeline Seng and biological Jackie Mark Carlyle. She graduated from Allen High School in 1960.  Early in her life she worked at General Acceptance Corp...

Sep 27, 2018

Janet Salvage departed on Thursday, the 27th of September 2018 at St. Luke's Hospice in Bethlehem.  She was born July 24, 1943, in Emmaus to Charles and Ethel Egner.  Janet graduated from Emmaus High School and attended business school.  She was a dedicated employee of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation for 33 years.  Active for many years with Pennsylvania Playhouse,...

Sep 20, 2018

Carol Sue Doup, 74, of New Tripoli, entered the arms of Jesus Sept. 20, 2018 in her residence.  She was the widow of Robert L. Doup.  Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Frederick and Eloise (Miller) Dry.  She was a graduate of Dickinson College, University of PA, and...

Sep 18, 2018

Richard S. Ruben, 70, of Zionsville, died Sept. 18, 2018 in Lehigh Valley Hospital.  He was the husband of Sharon A. (Lute) Ruben, with whom he shared 49 years of marriage.  Born in Indiana, PA, he was the son of the late George and Ann (Sagal) Ruben.  He was a graduate of Millersville University.  Rich was a graphic arts...

Sep 17, 2018

Gilbert Link, 60, of Emmaus died peacefully on September 17, 2018 after a brief illness.  He was the son of Sarah (Sally) Link and the late Gilbert Link. Gil was a 1975 graduate of Emmaus High School and attended Shippensburg and Muhlenberg College.  He worked at Dan Schantz and worked as a landscaper. ...

Sep 15, 2018

Clifford W. DeFrain, 93, passed away Sat., Sept. 15, 2018 in his Macungie residence. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Delphine M. (Schaffer) DeFrain. Born in Macungie, he was the son of the late Jonas and Carrie (Schuler) DeFrain. He retired from Bally Case and Cooler.  Clifford was a...

Sep 11, 2018

Ruth R. Arnold, 97, formerly of Allentown, died Sept. 11, 2018 in the Renaissance Home, Emmaus.  She was the widow of Charles E. Arnold.  Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of the late Howard and Esther (Fegley) Nonnemacher.  Ruth worked as a quiller in various silk mills for many years, retiring in 1968.  She was a member of...

Sep 8, 2018

Gary L. Steckel, 77, of Macungie, died Sept. 8, 2018 in his residence. Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late Robert Steckel and Edna (Fenstermacher) Rooney.  He was a retired HVAC technician and an avid gardener with witty sense of humor.

Gary is survived by his Son, Timothy Steckel and wife Betty of Allentown;...

Sep 7, 2018

John J. Speer, 90, of Old Zionsville, died Sept. 7, 2018 in Lehigh Valley Hospital.  He was the husband of Mary Ellen A. (Moyer) Speer, with whom he shared 64 years of marriage.  Born in Glenside, he was the son of the late William J. and Mary E. (Stark) Speer.  John was a 1946 graduate of Allentown High School. ...

Sep 7, 2018

Leo Schwindenhammer, 81, of Allentown, died Sept. 7, 2018 in ManorCare Bethlehem.  He was the widower of Nancy L. (Stephen) Schwindenhammer.  Born in Catasauqua, he was the son of the late George and Agnes (Deutsch) Schwindenhammer.  Leo worked as a fork lift operator for Tarkett for many years.  He was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Allentown....