Nescopeck-Berwick area obituaries

[All transcribed by Bonnie Farver.]

Bloomsburg Democrat, Wednesday, 18 December 1867 [Marriage Notice]:

        Dec. 5, Lutheran parsonage, Berwick, by Rev. W. B. Fox, Hiram Arner of Nescopeck and Miss Sallie E. Welsh of Sugarloaf Twp., Luzerne Co.

The Morning Press, Monday, 22 January 1923:

        Hiram Arner Died Yesterday, Well Known Nescopeck Resident Had Been Ill Only Short Time, Was Widely Known.

        A complication of diseases caused the death about three o’clock yesterday morning of Hiram Arner, of East Third Street, Nescopeck. Until about two weeks ago Mr. Arner was enjoying his usual good health but was forced to take his bed at that time and his condition grew steadily weaker until his death occurred. He was an exceptionally well known and highly esteemed resident of Nescopeck where he has made his home for the past twenty-two years prior to which time he lived at Briggsville where he was a successful farmer. Mr. Arner was aged 81 years, seven months and four days.

        Mr. Arner was a veteran of the Civil War and has been an active member of the Lutheran church his entire life.

        Besides his wife he is survived by the following children: Mrs. G. W. Peters, of Hobbie; Henry Arner, of Nescopeck R.D., Mrs. Leonard Peters, of Drifton; Mrs. Frank Richard and Mrs. Emma Honker, of Hazleton; Mrs. Milton Bloss, of Seybertsville; Ernest Arner, of Nescopeck. One brother, Samuel Arner,, of Corning, NY. and one sister, Mrs. S. D. Rinker, of Weatherly.

        Funeral services will be held at 10 o’clock Thursday morning in St. Mark’s Lutheran church and will be in charge of Rev. J. H. Young, a former pastor of the church. Interment will be made in the Schloyersville Cemetery.

Berwick Enterprise, Tuesday, 09 January 1962:

        Mrs. Sara Arner, aged 89, of Weatherly R.D. 1, died at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John O’Neill, Weatherly R.D. 1, on Monday night at 11:35 o’clock. She was born in Butler Valley, March 4, 1872, the daughter of the late James and Sara Beishline Schaffer. Her husband, Henry, preceded her in death in 1932.

        She had been in failing health following the suffering of a fractured hip in a fall in Hazleton last March.

        She was a member of the Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Briggsville and the Ladies’ Aid Society of the church.

        She is survived by the following children: Mrs. John O’Neill, Mrs. Viola Siegel, Weatherly R.D.1; Roger, of Bridgeville, Del.; Howard, of Kittanning; Hiram, Miss Edna Arner of Hazleton; Crawford, Nescopeck R. D. 1; Marvin and Daniel, Berwick R.D.2. One sister, Mrs. Lillian Klinesmith, of Hazleton, 21 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren also survive.

        Funeral services will be held on Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Heller Funeral Home, Nescopeck, with the Rev. Mr. Louis V. Rogers, pastor of the Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Briggsville, officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Briggsville. Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday evening from 7 to 9 o’clock.

Morning Press (Bloomsburg), Monday, 31 October 1966:

        Mrs. Jean A. Arner, Berwick R.D. 2, died at the Geisinger Medical Center Saturday evening at six-fifteen where she had been a patient for two days. She was aged forty-seven.

        She was a lifelong resident of Berwick and was a graduate of Berwick High School class of 1936. She was production analyst employed by the Wise Potato Chip Company of Berwick. She was a member of the Fowlersville Methodist Church and W.S.C.S.

        Surviving are her husband Daniel, a daughter, Mrs. William (Sandra Jean) Noss, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Bowes, Berwick, and a brother, Maurice Bowes, Jr., New Carrollton, Md.

        Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at two from the Fowlersville Methodist Church with Rev. William Mengel, officiating. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Walnut St., Berwick.

The Morning Press, Friday, 25 August 1978:

        Viola Arner Siegel, 82 of 880 Old Trilby Road, Brooksville, Florida, died Wednesday at 10:40 a.m. at Medic Nursing Home Center, Inverness, Florida.

        Born at Drums, June 21, 1896, she was a daughter of the late Henry and Sarah Schaffer Arner and was wed to John Siegel who preceded her in death.

        She was employed as housekeeper at Washington Sanitarium and Hospital, Washington D. C. prior to her retirement. She was a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist church, Brooksville.

        Survivors include one daughter, Miss Doris Siegel, at home, and seven brothers and sisters: Roger Arner, Briggsville, Del.; Howard Arner, Brooksville, Fla.; Hiram Arner, Hazleton; Crawford Arner, Nescopeck R.D. 1, Miss Edna Arner, Hazleton; Daniel Arner, Berwick, and Mrs. John (Irene) O’Neill, Weatherly.

        Services will be Sunday at 2 p.m. from the Earl R. Heller Funeral Home in Nescopeck with the Rev. Ray Davidson of the Seventh-Day Adventist church officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Briggsville.

The Times News (Lehighton), Monday, 02 August 1982:

        John E. O’Neill, 131 Carbon St., Weatherly died Saturday morning at Hazleton State General Hospital.

        Born in Weatherly R.D.1, he was the son of Walter and Mary Hartz O’Neill.

        He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church. Prior to retirement, he was a Lumberman. His wife was the former Irene Arner, also surviving are daughters Mrs. Mary Batzel, East Greenville and Mrs. Jesse (Lois) McKenzie, Weatherly, and a brother Eugene, of Weatherly.

Press Enterprise (Bloomsburg), Friday, 11 May 1984:

        Services for Creola M. Arner, 75, of Briggsville R.D.1, Nescopeck, will be held Saturday at 10 a.m from the Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Briggsville, with the Rev. Kenneth W. Hawk II, her pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

        Mrs. Arner died Wednesday at 10:05 p.m. in the Berwick Hospital.

        Born in Nescopeck Twp., Aug. 9, 1908, she was the daughter of the late Richard and Mary Nuss Campbell. She lived in Nescopeck Twp. all her life. Mrs. Arner had for many years assisted her husband in the operation of the family farm. She was a member of Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Briggsville.

        Surviving are her husband, Harry F. Arner, to whom she was married 57 years on April 16; two sons, Harry E. Arner, Hobbie; and Richard E. Arner, Nescopeck; seven daughters, Mrs. Harold (Mildred) Seward, Nescopeck, R. D. 1; Mrs. Chester (Louise) Lenanowicz, Glen Lyon; Mrs. Rollin (Helen) Swank, Morgantown, W. Va.; and Mrs. Henry (Loretta) Rossi, Drums R.D. 1; Mrs. William (Dorothy) Slusser, Nescopeck; Mrs. Richard (Naomi) Bognar, Berwick R.D. 4; Mrs. Robert C. (Winifred) Wood, Newark, Del. 30 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren ;and one brother, Howard Campbell of Berwick R. D.1.

Press Enterprise (Bloomsburg), Wednesday, 25 February 1987:

        Hiram W. Arner, 31 W. Second St., Hazleton, a guest at Genesis Home Care, Hazleton, died Tuesday at St. Joseph Medical Center, where he had been a patient for three weeks.

        Born in Briggsville, he was the son of the late Henry and Sarah Shaffer Arner.

        Before retirement, he was employed at Dick Construction Company, Hazleton. Mr. Arner was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Conyngham.

        Surviving are his wife, the former Marguerite Rickert, three brothers, Howard Arner, Brooksville, Fla.; Crawford Arner, Nescopeck R. D. 1; and Daniel Arner, Berwick R. D. 2.

        He was preceded in death by brothers and sisters, Irene O’Neill, Viola Siegel, Roger, Marvin and Edna Arner.

        Services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. from Hilary J. Bonin Funeral Home, 99 W. Green St., West Hazleton, with the Rev. William Fairchild officiating. Burial will be in Vine Street Cemetery, Hazleton.

Press Enterprise (Bloomsburg), Saturday, 18 November 1989:

        Roy E. Arner, 81, of Mountain Grove died at 11:35 p.m. at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.

        He was born along Nescopeck R.D.1, on April 15, 1908, son of the late Ernest S. and Catherine M. Hulsman.

        He had lived in Mountain Grove for the past nine years.

        He was a self employed farmer in Western Pennsylvania until he retired.

        He was last employed part-time at PP & L Montoursville.

        He is survived by his wife, the former Pauline E. Houston. Also surviving are three daughters: Mrs. Wally (Katherine) Berger, Baltimore: Mrs. Peter (Dorothy) Polepes, Lutherville, MD; and Mrs. David (Lucille) Jackson, Downingtown; 10 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Thomas (Geraldine) Shaw, Camp Verde, Ariz.; two brothers; Harry, Nescopeck R.D. 1; and Gordon, Hobbie.

        Services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. from the Heller Funeral Home, Nescopeck, with the Rev. Ray W. Schloyer, retired United Methodist Minister, Berwick, officiating. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Catawissa.

Press Enterprise (Bloomsburg), Wednesday, 11 July 1990:

        Mildred E. Arner, 76, Hobbie, died Tuesday at 3:34 a.m. in the emergency room at the Berwick Hospital center after being stricken at her home.

        Born in Numidia, on Nov. 9, 1913, she was a daughter of the late John and Ellen Meyers Fetterman.

        She and her husband operated Arner’s Boarding Home, Hobbie, for 16 years, until they retired. The couple spent winters in Lake Worth, Fla.

        Mrs. Arner was a member of St. James Lutheran Church, Hobbie.

        She was preceded in death by a brother, Karl Fetterman.

        Surviving are her husband, Gordon H. Arner, to whom she would have been married 61 years on Aug. 12; two daughters, Mrs. Orval (Geraldine M.) Shaffer, Berwick; Mrs. Paul (Carol) Thurman, West Liberty, Ohio; a son Ernest Arner, Lake Worth, Fla.; 15 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.

        Also surviving are three sisters, Anna Walters, Catawissa; Edna Ehret, Elysburg; Jean Johnson, Erie; two brothers: Glen Fetterman, Catawissa; and Robert Fetterman, Lake Park, Fla.

        Services will be Friday at 11 a.m. from Heller Funeral Home, Nescopeck, with the Rev. Harold F. Doebler, the Rev. David A. Heckler and the Rev. Harold Humphries officiating. Burial will be in Elan Memorial Park, Lime Ridge.

Press Enterprise (Bloomsburg), Sunday, 14 April 1991:

        Margaret L. Arner, 81, Briggsville, Nescopeck R. R. 1, died at 3:50 p.m. Saturday at the Berwick Hospital Center, where she had been a patient since Friday.

        Born in Berwick, Dec. 19, 1909, she was the daughter of the late Herbert and Bird Rupp Thomas.

        She assisted her husband in the operation of the family farm until they retired.

        In early years she worked at various silk mills in the Berwick Area.

        She was a member of the Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Briggsville. She was preceded in her death by two sisters and three brothers; Ethel Wolfe and Vera Balzer; and Leonard, Earl and Freas Thomas.

        Surviving are her husband, Crawford S. Arner, with whom she celebrated 56th anniversary on Oct. 29, children: Mrs. Darwin (Shirley) Slusser, Woodcrest,, Berwick R. R. 3, Mrs. Carl (Janet) Whitenight, Berwick; and Larry Arner, Briggsville; 10 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Millard (Betty) Silver, Nescopeck and a brother, Lester Thomas, Berwick.

        Services will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. from the Heller Funeral Home, Nescopeck, with the Rev. Richard Dennison, Nescopeck-Mt. Zion of UCC charge, the Rev. Craig D. Laidacker, officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Zion Cemetery.

Press Enterprise (Bloomsburg), Tuesday, 08 October 1991:

        Harry F. Arner, 84, Briggsville, Nescopeck R.D. 1, died at 3:50 a.m. Monday at the Berwick Hospital Center, where he had been a patient for two days.

        Born in Nescopeck Twp., on April 15, 1907, he was the son of the late Ernest S. and Catherine M. Hulsman Arner.

        He operated his own farm in Briggsville for many years, retiring in 1983. He was a former Nescopeck Twp. road supervisor and was still employed in that department when he died. He had been driving a backhoe Friday.

        He was a former Nescopeck Twp. constable. He was a member of the Nescopeck Twp. Volunteer Fire Co. and VFW.

        He was a former member of the Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Briggsville.

        He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Creola M. Campbell, on May 9, 1984, and a son, Harry E. Arner, Sept. 20, 1986, and a brother Roy E. Arner, Nov. 15, 1989.

        He is survived by seven daughters; Mrs. Harold (Mildred) Seward, Nescopeck R. R. 1, Mrs. Chester (Louise) Lemanowicz, Glen Lyon; Mrs. Rollin (Helen) Swank, Morgantown, W. V.; Mrs. Henry (Loretta) Rossi, Drums R. D.1; Mrs. William (Dorothy) Slusser, Peoria, Ariz.; Mrs. Richard (Naomi) Bognar, Berwick, R.R.4; Mrs. Robert (Winifred) Wood, Glasgo Pines, Del.; one son, Richard E. Arner, Nescopeck; 30 grandchildren and 43 great grandchildren.

        Also surviving is a brother, Gordon Arner, of Hobbie, and sister, Mrs. Thomas (Geraldine) Shaw, Camp Verde, Ariz.

        Services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. from the Heller Funeral Home, Nescopeck, with the Rev. Kenneth W. Hawk, II, former pastor of Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Briggsville, officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Zion Cemetery, Briggsville.

Press Enterprise (Bloomsburg), Tuesday, 06 September 1994:

        Gordon H. Arner, 83, Hobbie, died Monday afternoon, Sept. 5, 1994, at the home of a daughter in West Liberty, Ohio. He had been in failing health for a year.

        He was born in Nescopeck R.R.1 on March 16, 1911, son of the late Ernest S. and Katherine M. Hulsman Arner.

        He was an Army veteran of World War II.

        He spent his winters in Lake Worth, Fla.

        He and his late wife operated Arner’s Boarding Home, Hobbie, for 16 years, until they retired.

        He was a member of St. James Lutheran Church, Hobbie, and was active in the building project of the church. He was a former member and chief of the Hobbie Volunteer Fire Co.

        His wife, the former Mildred E. Fetterman, died July 10, 1990. Two brothers also died previously, Roy E. on Nov. 15, 1980, and Harry F. on Oct. 7, 1991.

        He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Orval (Geraldine M.) Shaffer, Berwick, and Mrs. Paul (Carol) Thurman, West Liberty, Ohio, a son, Ernest Arner, Lake Worth, Fla.; 15 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren; and a sister, Mrs. Thomas (Geraldine) Shaw, Camp Verde, Ariz.

Services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Heller Funeral Home, Nescopeck with the Rev. Robert C. Cole, his pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Elan Memorial Park, Lime Ridge.

Press Enterprise (Bloomsburg), Tuesday, 08 October 1996:

        Crawford S. Arner, 86, Briggsville, Nescopeck R.D.1, died at 9:56 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, 1996, in the emergency room of the Berwick Hospital Center, after being stricken with a heart attack in Nescopeck Township.

        Born June 29, 1910, in Nescopeck Twp., he was a son of the late Henry J. and Sarah Shaffer Arner.

        He operated the family farm until retiring in 1980.

        Mr. Arner was a member of Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Briggsville.

        His wife, the former Margaret L. Thomas, died April 13, 1991, and a stepdaughter, Shirley Slusser, died Dec. 12, 1993. Four sisters also died previously; Margaret and Edna Arner, Viola Siegel, and Irene O’Neill, as did four brothers: Marvin, Roger, Hiram, and Howard Arner.

        He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Carl (Janet) Whitenight, Berwick, a son, Larry Arner, Briggsville; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, eight step-great grandchildren and one step-great-great-grandchild; and a brother, Daniel Arner, Berwick R.R. 2.

        Services will be Thursday at 11 a.m. from the Heller Funeral Home, Nescopeck, with the Rev. Rodney R. Heckert, his pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Mount Zion Cemetery, Briggsville.

Press Enterprise (Bloomsburg), Friday, 19 September 2003:

        Daniel G. “Dan” Arner, 90, formerly of Berwick R.R. 2, died at 11:10 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003, in Balanced Care-Bloomsburg, near Lightstreet, where he had been a resident since March 30, 1999.

        He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Jean Harman, on Oct. 29, 1966.

        Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Fowlersville United Methodist Church with William Noss, his son-in-law, officiating. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Walnut Street, Berwick.