John E. Gentzler, Jr.

John Edward Gentzler, Jr., age 89, formerly of Littlestown died Saturday, July 16, 2011 at Homewood at Plum Creek in Hanover. He was born Tuesday, October 18, 1921 in East Berlin the son of the late John Edward and Esther (Myers) Gentzler, Sr. John graduated from East Berlin High School in 1939. He attended Ursinus College for two years before enlisting in the U.S. Army. John was the owner and operator of Keystone Milling Company in Littlestown for 36 years. He was an active member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Littlestown, where he was a member of the Men's Brotherhood and served on church council. He served as a member of the planning committee of Littlestown School District. He was on the Board of Directors of the Littlestown National Bank and Community National Bank. He was also a member ofHebron Masonic Lodge #463 FAM in New Oxford, American Legion Post 321 in Littlestown and VFW Post 8898 in East Berlin. He served in the U.S. Army as a Field Sgt. commanding a tank in Germany and France during World War II. He was the devoted husband of Dorothy M. (Leib) Gentzler who died in April of 2010. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepmother M. Florence (Myers) Gentzler and two granddaughters, Heather and Debbie. He was the loving father of three daughters: Margaret Jean and husband Donald Bair of Biglerville, Nadine E. and husband Jerry Morningstar of Glenville, Joanne H. and husband Frank Vaul of Stone Harbor, NJ; a son, Carl D. Gentzler, Littlestown; six grandchildren, Amber R. Riley and husband Dru of Manchester, MD, Alex Bair of Biglerville, Joshua Morningstar and wife Amy of Manchester, MD, Shawn Gentzler of Littlestown and Lyndsy Vaul and Adam Vaul, both of Stone Harbor; and great grandchildren Quinn and Samuel Riley of Manchester, MD. Professional services are being handled by Dugan Funeral Home, Inc., Bendersville. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, July 23 at 2:00 PM at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 665 St. John's Road, Littlestown with Reverend James S. Dunlop officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Littlestown. A viewing will be held at the church on Saturday from 12:00 noon until time of services. Masonic Services will be held at 1:15 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to ARC of Adams County, P.O. Box 551, Biglerville, PA 17307 or St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 665 St. John's Road, Littlestown, PA 17340.