Obituaries

Martin L. “Pop” Haas, 83 of Fork Twp., PA died Sunday, March 10, 2019 at St. Luke’s Hospital Anderson Campus after being stricken at home. Born January 13, 1936 in Bath, PA he was a son of the late Michael and Anna (Tashner) Haas. He was an Army veteran and had been employed by Schwerman Trucking in Nazareth for 37 years and then by Easton Cemetery before retiring.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary Anne (Tharp) Haas; 4 children: Joyce Thomas (husband Rich) of Moscow, PA, James Haas (wife Johnna) of Clarksville, TN, Robert Haas (wife Randy) of Landenberg, PA, Ronald Haas (wife Naomi) of Visalia, CA; brother: John; sister: Ethel; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held 10:30 AM Saturday (Mar. 16) in the Easton Cemetery Chapel, North 7th St., Easton, with visitation 10 to 10:30 AM in the Chapel. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or any veteran’s organization. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

A. Frederick Gerstell, 81 of Santa Barbara, CA, died February 23, 2019 after a long illness. Born and raised in Easton, PA, he was a son of the late Alice (Roeth) and Robert S. Gerstell. He graduated from The Lawrenceville School in 1956 and earned a B.A. from Princeton University in 1960. He served in the United States Army and joined The Alpha Portland Cement Company, of which his grandfather, A. F. Gerstell, was an early president. Fred then moved to Los Angeles, CA to work for the California Portland Cement Company, later becoming the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CalMat and Vulcan Materials. He served as Director of Northern Trust Co. of California and the Ameron Co. of Los Angeles. He was on the Board of Governors of the American Business Conference Foundation for Economic Growth in Washington, DC and served on the Board of the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History. He was also a Director of the Charitable Trust of the Beavers, the California Chamber of Commerce and the YMCA of Los Angeles. In addition, he is a Trustee Emeritus of The Lawrenceville School. Fred will be remembered for his love of Princeton, joy in playing a great round of golf, weaving a good story, dancing the night away and playing a tune on his harmonica.

He is survived by his daughters: Alison Smith, Andrea Lukens, Daphne Ford and their husbands; four grandchildren; a sister: Roberta Bennett; cousins and nieces. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by a sister Mary Alice Neary.

Services will be held 11 AM Friday (Mar. 1) at College Hill Presbyterian Church, 501 Brodhead St., Easton, PA followed by interment in Easton Cemetery. Arrangements: Ashton Funeral Home, Easton, PA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the A. F. Gerstell and Robert S. Gerstell Memorial Scholarship Fund of Princeton University. His family wishes to thank the many kind and patient friends, family and caregivers Fred had over the past several years. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com

Eva C. Stem, 98 formerly of Easton, PA died February 20, 2019 at Mrs. Bush’s Personal Care Home in Kunkletown, PA where she enjoyed living prior to her passing. Born September 27, 1920 in Easton she was a daughter of the late Simon and Christina (Parish) Korpan. Her husband Chester R. “Chet” Stem died in 1995. A 1938 graduate of Easton High School, she had been employed by Doug Cooper Auto Mall and Alpha Portland Cement. She was a member of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church and was in the choir, Altar and Rosary Society and Council of Catholic Women at the former St. Bernard’s Church. She had been a Girl Scout Leader Troop #4, Past- President of the Easton Garden Club, Corresponding Secretary of the Garden Club Federation PA District 2 and volunteer at the Crayola Factory, Miller Blood Bank and ProJeCt LEARN. Eva will be remembered for her joyful sense of humor, always ready with a joke.

She is survived by her children: Jeffrey A. Stem (wife Robin) of Brodheadsville, PA, Christine Bailey (husband Michael J.) of Germansville, PA; 9 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Chet, son Seth and a grandchild.

Mass will be held  10:30 AM Saturday (Mar. 2) at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 132 S. 5th St., Easton, PA, with a calling period from 10 to 10:30 AM in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment is in Easton Heights Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Mercy Church. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Sidney H. Kaplan, 90 of Wilson Borough, PA died Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at New Eastwood Healthcare Center. Born July 14, 1928 in Easton, PA he was a son of the late Morris and Fannie (Sher) Kaplan. He and his wife, the former Helene Feuerman would have been married 59 years next week. He was a 1946 graduate of Easton High School and member of their reunion committee. He served in the Army during the Korean War and was a second-generation owner/operator of Kaplan Awning in Easton where he remained active for more than fifty years even after transitioning the business to his children in 1997. He was a member of the Bnai Abraham Synagogue and former member of Northampton Country Club where he had a hole-in-one on the golf course. He was also an avid bowler, active in numerous bowling leagues over the years.

He is survived by his wife: Helene; his son: David Kaplan (wife Snookie) of Wilson; his daughter: Randi Kaplan of Forks Twp., PA; a brother: Dr. Lee Kaplan of Edison, NJ; and a sister: Isabel Schiff in Israel. He was predeceased by a brother: Joseph Kaplan and sisters: Ethel Kahan and Dorothy “Toots” Kaplan.

Services are 10 AM Sunday (Feb. 24) in the Bnai Abraham Synagogue, 1545 Bushkill St., Easton with interment in Bnai Abraham Cemetery, Forks Twp., PA. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. The family will be sitting Shiva, Sunday to Tuesday (Feb 24 to 26) at 7pm at Bnai Abraham Synagogue.

Memorial contributions may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center or the Synagogue. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Debra Marie Smith, 55, of Fernandina Beach, FL passed away Feb. 15, 2019 at her home after a lengthy illness. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, she had resided in Fernandina for the past 11 years, moving there from Louisiana. She graduated from Freedom High School, Bethlehem Twp. and received her AA degree in finance from Lamar Salter Technical College, Louisiana. Debra was a Contractor in Iraq from 2004-2008, where she met her husband Michael, a U.S. Army veteran. While in Iraq she also started her own business, DB Enterprise, which she operated from 2004-2012. She was an adventurer who loved to travel anywhere on a whim. She traveled to Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and Dubai for both business and pleasure. She loved her family, especially her 4 grandchildren. She also cherished her friendships and had a deep love for her 2 dogs, Lily and Bentley, who were always by her side. Debra loved sailing, golfing, interior design, and especially loved staying home and being a wife. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 54, the American Legion Post 54 Riders, and a lifemember of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

She is survived by her husband: Michael; her father: Joseph P. Ackerman and step-mother: Gloria of N. Ft. Myers, FL; step-daughter: Michelle E. Carmichael of Baker, FL; sisters: Teri Whittaker of Marshalls Creek, PA, Dawn Corpora of Easton, PA; brothers: Joseph Ackerman of Shelby, MT, Russell Ackerman of Easton, PA; grandchildren: Jason Smith, Damien “DJ” Carmichael, Katherine Neisler, James Wyatt Neisler. She was predeceased by her mother: Nancy R. Ackerman

A Graveside service will be held 11 AM Monday (Feb. 25) at Northampton Memorial Shrine, 3051 Green Pond Rd., Easton; with visitation 9 AM to 10:30 AM in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.