Obituaries

Catherine I. "Cass" (Zweizig) Bieber, 97, of Kutztown, died Monday, January 5, 2026, peacefully while under hospice care in Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. She was the widow of Russell C. Bieber who died May 6, 1971; and was the companion of the late Cleon Boyer, who died March 29, 2000. Born in Perry Township,…

Lawrence D. "Larry" Werst, 84, former Mayor of Topton, PA, died peacefully on Saturday, January 3, 2026 in Allentown, PA. Born on August 15, 1941 in Topton, PA, Larry was a son of the late Raymond P. Werst, Jr. and Mamie A. (Teter) Werst.Larry was a 1959 graduate of Brandywine Heights High School, Topton, where…

Eleanore V. Bleiler, 94, a resident of Buehrle Center, Topton, and formerly of Mertztown, passed away on Friday, January 2, 2026. She was the widow of Woodrow W. Bleiler, who died on November 18, 2017. Born in Allentown, Eleanore was a daughter of the late Stanley and Lilly (Laudenslager) Wertman. She was a member of…

Brenda L. (Dietrich) Gardner, 78, formerly of Topton, PA, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 2, 2026 in Easton, PA. She was the widow of Ronald Gardner who died in 1989.Born in Reading, PA, Brenda was a daughter of the late Ira G. and Lillian M. (Kutz) Dietrich and was a member of Mt. Zion…

Joan E. (Murphy) Newman, 94, of Mertztown, PA, and formerly of Pottsville, PA, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 27, 2025 in her residence. She was the widow of Leslie J. Newman, whom she was married to for 44 years prior to his passing in 2000.Born in the village of Cumbola, Blythe Township, Schuylkill County,…

Elmer H. Zimmerman, 52, of Maxatawny Township, died peacefully, surrounded by his family, Saturday, December 27, 2025, in his residence. He was the husband of Arlene W. (Weaver) Zimmerman, whom he married November 2, 1995. Born in Maxatawny Township, Elmer was a son of Erma Z. (Hoover) Zimmerman, Kutztown, and the late Ammon H. Zimmerman.…

Mace R. Arndt, 84, a lifelong resident of Lyon Station, PA, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 27, 2025 in his residence. He was the loving husband of Darlene L. (Fenstermacher) Arndt, whom he married on July 2, 1960.Born in Reading, PA, Mace was a son of the late Harvey and Beulah (Schwoyer) Arndt and…

Mary Ann (Deininger) Hill, 91, of Topton, PA, and formerly of Valley Forge, died on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, in the Henry Health Care Center, on the campus of The Lutheran Home at Topton, Longswamp Township. She was the widow of Ronald Hill, who died December 22, 2022, and whom she married on February 25,…

Grace A. (Gambler) Frantz, 86, formerly of Kutztown and Topton, died peacefully Sunday, December 21, 2025, in Tower Health - Reading Hospital. She was the widow of Monroe A. Frantz, who died in 1983. Born in Topton, Grace was a daughter of the late LeRoy and Elda M. (Behm) Gambler. She was a member of…

Patricia A. (Hieter) Hilbert, 81, formerly of Longswamp Township, died peacefully Friday, December 19, 2025, in Mosser Nursing Home, where she was a guest three weeks. Patricia was the loving wife of Homer H. Hilbert, whom she married November 11, 1961. Born in Topton, Pat was a daughter of the late David A. and Lizzie…