Vernon M. Reifsnyder

Vernon M. Reifsnyder, 92, a resident of Penn Township, entered eternal life on October 25, 2015 at his home near Bernville. He had cancer of the lining of the lungs and gratefully received hospice care in his home in recent months.

Vernon was born on August 15, 1923 in North Heidelberg Township, the son of the late William M. and Blanche (Reber) Reifsnyder.

He graduated from Penn-Bernville High School in 1941 and completed a 4-month course at Clearfield Aviation School, Clearfield, Pennsylvania, learning how to make airplanes.

Vernon served in the Army Air Force during WWII, stationed at Mendlesham in Suffolk, England. He loaded bombs on B-24 Liberators and later on B-17 Flying Fortresses. In the early 1950's he served in the Air Force and the Air National Guard, stationed in Dover, Delaware.

Vernon married E. Edith Schaeffer on September 9, 1950 in St. Thomas Church, Bernville. They met in the 4th grade at school, but their first date was after World War II - a walk up by the Bernville cemetery after a Memorial Day parade.

Vernon was a carpenter / construction worker, employed by A. T. Consoli & Sons of Reading and other firms. In the 1950's he built his own house across from the Penn-Bernville Elementary School athletic field. He lived there the rest of his life.

Vernon was a member of St. Thomas Church, Bernville where he taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and sang in the choir. In recent years, he did the weekly updates on the St. Thomas sign along Route 183.

Vernon was active in Pennsylvania German organizations. He served on the Baerricks Kounty Fersommling Rawd, the West Berks Fersommling committee, and sang in Die Dolpehock Sanger Chor, singing on BCTV for over 30 years, and for church services and other gatherings. The Sanger Chor will sing at Vernon's funeral.

He served as President of the Tulpehocken Settlement Historical Society in Womelsdorf from 1989 to 1991 and mowed the grass there for many years.

Vernon loved to fish and spent many happy hours on his boat. He also enjoyed fires in the fireplace and collected wood whenever he could. He loved to sit on the back porch swing, looking out over the property where he gardened, kept chickens, and maintained an orchard over the years. And he always knew when the snow was right for sledding and would bring his children out to enjoy the rides.

Vernon was a founding member of the family club, the REA (Recreational Eaters of America). His club title was "Garbologist" because he always took out the trash after family feasts.

Vernon is survived by his wife, Edith, and four children: Elizabeth (Betsy), Bernville; Daniel and his wife Beth, Lewistown, Pennsylvania; Anne and her husband Robert Ciraulo, Poughkeepsie, New York; and Mary and her husband Stanley Lessig, Vandalia, Ohio. Other survivors include five grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; brother Norman, Mount Pleasant; sister Kathryn Stricker, Robesonia; sister Sara Schell, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be on Saturday, October 31 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Church in Bernville with visitation beginning at 10:00 in the St. Thomas Church Library. Following the graveside service in St. Thomas Cemetery, there will be a light lunch at St. Thomas Church. Friends and family are invited to celebrate Vernon's life at these gatherings.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Thomas Church, 536 Main Street, Bernville, PA 19506.

The Kirkhoff Funeral Home, Bernville is entrusted with the funeral arrangements.