Obituaries

Hans Smestad, 94 of Forks Twp., PA formerly of Manalapan, NJ, Brooklyn, NY and Hamar, Norway died Monday, February 19, 2024 at the Lehigh Valley Hospice. Born April 27, 1929 in Hamar, Norway, he was a son of the late Leif and Astrid (Nygaard) Smestad. His wife of 69 years, Anna (Thoresen) Smestad died in 2020. He was employed by the Local 1456 Carpenter’s Union in New York City for many years before retiring.

Hans grew up in Norway and survived the Nazi occupation there during WWII. He was 16 when the war ended, and with few prospects at home, went to sea as a merchant marine for five years, eventually settling in the Norwegian section of Brooklyn, Bay Ridge. That is where he met the love of his life, Anna, who had also survived the war. They married and had six children together. He was a very active member of Arndt’s Lutheran Church, Forks Twp. and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. He also loved to bowl and especially loved time with his family.

He is survived by his children: Linda Smestad (Eivind) in Norway, John Smestad (Kim) of Forks Twp., PA, Judy Smestad-Nunn (Richard) of Brick, NJ, Astri Smestad-Myhre (Sigbjorn) of Cranford, NJ, Kristian Smestad (Jerelyn) of Westerly, RI; 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Anna and his son: Erik Smestad.

A Memorial Service will be held 3 PM Saturday (Feb. 24) in Arndt’s Lutheran Church, 1851 Arndt Road, Easton, PA with a calling period from 2 to 3 PM in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Arndts Lutheran Church, 1851 Arndt Rd., Easton, PA 18040. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com. 

Lothar D. Gumberich, 90, of Palmer Township, died Saturday, February 17, 2024. Born May 15, 1933 in Heidelberg, Germany, he was the son of the late Julius and Selma (Wimpfheimer) Gumberich. His wife of 48 years, Wendy (Lipton) Gumberich, died in 2017. Lothar was a graduate of City University of New York; Harvard Business School Executive Management program and he served in the US Army. He last worked for the Penn State University Management Development Program for 15 years. Prior to that he held several executive marketing and management positions with blue chip corporations.
He was a member of Congregation Bnai Shalom where he was a board member and past president. He also served on the board of Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley and served as an associate chaplain for Easton Hospital. Lothar was an avid reader, lifelong learner and very caring and giving member of the community, beloved by many.

He is survived by his son, Preston Gumberich and his wife, Marcia Cooper as well as cousins in the USA, Israel and France.

Services will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, February 23, 2024 in Congregation Bnai Shalom, 1545 Bushkill St., Easton with interment in B’nai Abraham Cemetery, Forks Township. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Congregation Bnai Shalom or Meals on Wheel of the Greater Lehigh Valley, www. mowglv.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Betty Jane Hendershot, 71 of Easton, PA died Friday, February 16, 2024 at home. Born September 11, 1952 in Dover, NJ she was a daughter of the late Guy Davis and Marie (Waldron) Castmore. She had been employed as a nurse’s aide for several years.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Gilbert Hendershot, Jr., her daughter: Marie Dezzi (husband Robert) of Bangor, PA; sons: Gilbert “Pete” Hendershot, III of Phillipsburg, NJ, Chad Hendershot of Easton; brothers and sisters; 5 grandchildren: Rodney “Buddy”, Brayden, Eva, Liam, Iris; and a great-granddaughter.

A memorial service will be held 3 PM Friday (Feb. 23) in First Moravian Church, 225 N. 10th St., Easton with a calling period from 2:30 to 3 PM in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Mina Melissa Cigus, 83 of Easton, PA died Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at Northampton Post Acute. Born December 16, 1940 in Easton she was a daughter of the late Mina (Adam) and J. Edward Coldren. She was a 1958 graduate of Easton High School and employed by Mack Printing for 34 years, then Walmart for 24 years. Mina was a member of First Moravian Church, Easton and was an avid seamstress. She belonged to a sewing club and enjoyed making clothes for both herself and her husband. She loved their house at the Delaware shore and she loved her animals, especially “Punkie” and “Teddie”.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Frank W. Cigus; her in-laws: Walter and Carrie Cigus; 2 nieces and 2 grand- nephews.

Services are 11 AM Friday (Feb. 16) in First Moravian Church, 225 N. 10th St., Easton with visitation 10 to 11 AM. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Moravian Church, 225 N. 10th St., Easton, Pa 18042 or Alzheimer’s Disease Research, 2252 Gateway Center Dr., Clarksville, MD 21029. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Mae Coreen Weaver, 85 of Palmer Twp., PA died Saturday, February 10, 2024 at home. Born February 10, 1939 in Easton, PA she was a daughter of the late R. Oliver Beishline and Edna Mae (Crouthamel) Beishline Morrow. She was a 1957 graduate of Wilson High School and employed by Schafer Bologna, Service Master and as a home health aide for many years before retiring. Coreen was an active member of Bethel Memorial Baptist Church in Palmer Twp. where she taught Sunday School, helped with the nursery and sang in the choir. She also enjoyed time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, William A. Weaver; her daughter: Bonnie Sue Hanni of Wilson Borough, PA; a nephew whom she raised: Richard Beishline of Bushkill Twp., PA; sisters: Dorothy Weiss, Mary Renshaw, Ruth Borovicka; 3 grandsons: David Hanni, Jr., Nathaniel Hanni, Clayton Hanni; 5 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by siblings: Richard Beishline and Carol Chegwidden.

Services are Noon on Monday (Feb. 19) at Bethel Memorial Baptist Church, 715 Chestnut Lane, Easton with visitation 11 AM to noon in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army of Easton, 1110 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

David L. Harvey, Jr., 81, of Plainfield Township, formerly of Wilson Borough, died Monday, February 5, 2024 in St. Luke’s Hospital. Born June 11, 1942 in East Stroudsburg, he was the son of the late David L. and Elsie (Heller) Harvey. He and his wife, Priscilla M. (Orth) Harvey were married 57 years. David graduated from Wilson High School in 1960 and served in the US Army Signal Corp in Germany during the Vietnam War where he attained the Rank of Spec 4 Radio Operator & Artillery & received commendation as a marksman. He established, owned and operated the Forks Gun Shop in Easton, Pa for a number of years and was a supervisor of the electronics design drafting department for Bell & Howell in Phillipsburg and Allentown. David was an avid fisherman and sport shooting enthusiast and competed at PA State Trap Shooting amateur events. He was the treasurer for the Pocono Slate Belt Shooting Association and was a member of the Phillipsburg Pistol Club. He was the treasurer for the Philadelphia Kerry Blue Terrier Club and was actively involved in the rescue and rehoming of numerous Kerries from around the country through the Kerry Blue Terrier Foundation. He also enjoyed restoring John Deere tractors.

Surviving with his wife, Priscilla, are a daughter, Kristin Harvey Kunsman and her husband, Shane, and a grandson, Jacob David Kunsman. He was predeceased by two sisters, Janice Sherman and Karen Miller.

Services will be private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Robert D. Keller, Jr., 69, of Allentown, PA., left this world peacefully on Feb. 5, 2024, but not before first sharing his love, smiles, and witty humor with everyone fortunate enough to be in his presence. Robert was a man rich in friendship and love for close friends and strangers alike. It was impossible to meet Robert and not be drawn in by his gentle smile and the kindness he exuded. 

He was born on Dec. 27, 1954, in Colorado Springs, CO, to the late Robert D. Keller, Sr. and Rose Marie. He attended Wilson High School and remained close friends with many of his classmates. After graduation and for the next 44 years, Bob had a colorful career at the “Big Red Place” where he was a highly admired Supervisor, amassing several notable accomplishments including the development of a Super Fe26 Oxide that allows objects to adhere to non-stick pans. Bob could fix just about anything, and his skill contributed to his collection of unique inventions and accomplishments.  He used his experience working with high pressure stream boilers to invent a portable steam bucket. The vacuum jacketed steam bucket required zero energy and allowed effortless transport of small quantities of steam, becoming very popular with cleaning crews, and could be used as a green alternative to traditional cleaning products and sanitizers.

With over 20-years of experience in Water Treatment, Bob had a simple, but effective method, to map out the convection currents at a local holding pond. He found that if he placed an inflatable dolphin in the pond, it would begin to rock back and forth as it approached an area where cool molecules would sink, and warm molecules would rise. This would later be known as the “Delphinidae Bob Test”.  Bob was also instrumental in the development of a material to block the effects of radiation decay on solar arrays used in space. The first test satellite with this technology has been broadcasting a special “BOB Day” message every third Wednesday of June, since its inception.

Many of Bob’s closest friends did not know that he had an amazing operatic tenor voice. He traveled frequently to perform the National Anthem at sporting events across the country. His grandkids would frequently call him by his nickname, “Mr. Palazzo.” A modest man, he was secretly most proud when the Queen invited him to sing at one of her jubilees. Never missing an opportunity to bring smiles to others, he graciously accepted, and sang the Major-General’s song, while juggling.

In 2021, at the young age of 66 Bob became a college graduate, earning his Bachelor’s degree in business administration at Muhlenberg College. He was beloved by the students and faculty, and proudly graduated with a GPA of 3.93, with Distinction, and named to the 2019-2021 Dean’s List. His time at Muhlenberg fostered his love of writing and he penned a fictional novel and started another before his passing.

Bob is deeply missed. He was an amazing and devoted father, father-in-law, grandfather and friend. He is survived by his two sons, Eric and Joshua; brother Richard; sister Robin and two grandchildren Nathan and Natalie.  In lieu of flowers or donations, Bob would like everyone who is reading his obituary to smile and to do something kind for someone else. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Frances Yonkelowitz, who departed this world surrounded by the love of her family and friends on Saturday, February 3, 2024. Born April 17, 1932, Frances lived a life filled with warmth, compassion, and unwavering devotion to those she held dear. She was a pillar of strength and kindness, a beacon of love that illuminated the lives of those fortunate enough to know her. Her nurturing soul, gentle wisdom, and boundless love created a home filled with warmth and laughter. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, cherishing each moment spent with her family.

Frances is survived by her loving daughter, Susan Schweitzer, and partner, Greg Slack; her sons and daughters-in-law, Wayne and Pam Yonkelowitz, Steve and Denise Yonkelowitz. She leaves a legacy of love that extends through generations touching the lives of her grandsons, Justin and Aaron Yonkelowitz. Her spirit lives on in the hearts of her great-grandchildren, Elaina, Vera and Adelina Yonkelowitz. She was predeceased by her husband, Sidney Yonkelowitz and her son, Mark Yonkelowitz.

A Graveside Service will be held 11:30 AM Tuesday (Feb. 6) at Bnai Abraham Cemetery, Arndt Road, Forks Twp., PA. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

As we bid farewell to Frances Yonkelowitz, let us remember the joy she brought into our lives and her profound impact on everyone around her. Her memory will forever be etched in our hearts, a source of comfort and inspiration in the days ahead. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Lehigh Valley Hospice-Allentown, 2024 Lehigh St., Suite 100, Allentown, PA 180103. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.