Person Page - 724

     Mark William Kessler was born on 6 July 1917, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA.¹ He married Margaret Irene Erdman on 28 January 1939, Zion (Klinger's) Church, Erdman, Dauphin County, PA.² Mark William Kessler died on 9 December 2008, at his home, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA, at age 91.^3,4
Obituary in the Sunbury Daily Item:
GRATZ - Mark W. "Mike" Kessler, 91, of Gratz, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, at his home.
He was born July 6, 1917, in Gratz, the son of the late Sinary and Lola (Zerbe) Kessler. He was married to the former Margaret Irene Erdman, who preceded him in death.
Mike was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Philippines 66th Regiment, 4508 Quarter Master Unit. He received the Infantry Expert Medal award.
He was employed as a truck driver and drove truck for 74 years, accident free. For the last 40 years, he drove for Troutman Bros. of Klingerstown.
Mike was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2385, Lykens Township, and the Woodman of the World.
He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Violet and Raymond Hartman of Lykens Township, Verginia and Jack Reed of Gratz and Debra and Daniel Hurley of Valley View; two sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Barbara Kessler of Brookville and Ricci and Gloria Kessler of Harrisburg; two sisters, Pauline Coleman of Hegins and Carolyn Troutman of Elizabethville; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one great-grandson, Greg Hartman, and one sister, Mae Deppen.
Friends will be received from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Simeon United Lutheran Church, Gratz, followed by the funeral at 11 with the Rev. Barry Ridge officiating.
Interment will be in Gratz Union Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pinnacle Health Hospice, 3705 Elmwood Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17110, or Simeon's United Lutheran Church, Gratz, PA 17030.
The James A. Reed Funeral Home, Pillow, is in charge of the arrangements.
Published in The Daily Item on 12/11/2008.³

Obituary in the Harrisburg Patriot- News:
GRATZ - Mr. Mark (Mike) W. Kessler, 91, of Gratz, passed away Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at his residence.
Mark was born in Gratz, PA on July 6, 1917, the son of the late Sinary and Lola (Zerbe) Kessler.
He was the widower of Margaret Irene (Erdman) Kessler.
He was a Veteran of World War II, and served in the Phillipines 66th Regiment, 4508 Quarter Master Unit. He received the Infantry Expert Medal Award. He was employed as a truck driver for 74 years, accident free, and the last 40 years he drove for Troutman Brothers of Klingerstown. He was a member of the VFW Post 2385 Lykens Twp., and the Woodman of the World.
Mark is survived by three daughters, Violet, wife of Raymond Hartman of Lykens Twp., Verginia, wife of Jack Reed of Gratz, and Debra, wife of Daniel Hurley of Valley View; two sons, Mark, husband of Barbara Keller of Brookville, and Ricci, husband of Gloria Keller of Harrisburg. Mark is also survived by two sisters, Pauline Coleman of Hegins, and Carolyn Troutman of Elizabethville; two brothers, Earl Kessler of Dornsife R.D., and Leon Kessler of Elizabethville; 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a great-grandson, Greg Hartman and a sister, Mae Deppen.
Friends will be received Saturday, December 13th from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m., in Simeon United Lutheran Church, Gratz, with Rev. Barry Ridge officiating. Interment will be in Gratz Union Cemetery, PA.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pinnacle Health Hospice, 3705 Elmwood Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17110 or Simeon's United Lutheran Church, Gratz, PA 17030.
James A. Reed Funeral Home of Pillow, PA, are in charge of arrangements.
Published in the Patriot-News on 12/11/2008.⁴
He was buried on 13 December 2008, at Gratz Union Cemetery, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA.^4,3

     Raymond Edward Hartman is also referred to as Ray Edwin Hartman in some sources.⁴ He was born on 21 April 1906, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, PA.^5,4,6 He was the son of Edwin Hartman and Jennie Louise Welker.³ Raymond Edward Hartman married Tillie Sedora Klinger, daughter of Alexander W. Klinger and Barbara Sedora Williard, on 25 July 1925, Simeon Lutheran Church, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA.^3,7
Newspaper obituary:
Ray E. Hartman, 90, Lykens
Farmer
LYKENS -- Ray E. Hartman, 90, of 1629 Valley Drive Road, died, Tuesday, April 30, 1996, at Mansion Nursing Home, Sunbury.
Born April 21, 1906, in Lykens Township, Mr. Hartman was the son of the late Edwin and Jennie (Welker) Hartman. Mr. Hartman was married to Tillie Klinger, who preceded him in death.
Mr. Hartman, a retired farmer, was a member of Simeon United Lutheran Church and life member of Gratz Fire Company, both of Gratz, and life member of Lower Northumberland AAA Association.
Surviving are three sons, Eddie and Richard R., both of Gratz, and Raymond of RD Lykens; 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Mr. Hartman was preceded in death by one son, Benjamin, and one daughter, Shirley Wilkins.
The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at Simeon United Lutheran Church, Gratz, by the Rev. Barry Ridge. Burial will be in Gratz Union Cemetery, Gratz.
Visitors may call from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Saturday at the church.
Funeral arrangements were made by James A. Reed Funeral Home, Market and Chestnut streets, Pillow.
The Daily Item (Sunbury, Pennsylvania), 02 May 1996, Thu, Page 31.⁶
Raymond Edward Hartman died on 30 April 1996, Mansion Nursing Home, Sunbury, Northumberland County, PA, at age 90.⁴ He was buried on 4 May 1996, at Simeon United Lutheran Church Cemetery, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA.^4,6

     Tillie Sedora Klinger was born on 21 April 1905, Klingerstown, Schuylkill County, PA.^1,4 She was the daughter of Alexander W. Klinger and Barbara Sedora Williard.^2,3 Tillie Sedora Klinger was baptized on 16 July 1905, St. Michael's Church, Klingerstown, Schuylkill County, PA.¹ She married Raymond Edward Hartman, son of Edwin Hartman and Jennie Louise Welker, on 25 July 1925, Simeon Lutheran Church, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA.^4,5 Tillie Sedora Klinger died on 6 May 1994, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, PA, at age 89.^4,6
Newspaper obituary:
Tillie S. Hartman
Tillie S. Hartman, 89, of RD1 Lykens, died Friday at her home.
Born in Klingerstown, April 21, 1905, a daughter of the late Alexander and Barbara Williard Klinger.
She was a member of Simeons. United Lutheran Church, Gratz, and its Willing Workers.
A son, Benjamin, died in 1937, and a daughter, Shirley Hartman Wilkins, died in 1989.
Surviving are her husband, Ray E; three sons, Eddie and Richard, both of Gratz, and Raymond, RD1 Lykens; 14 grandchildren; 13 greatgrandchildren.
Services wil be held at 11 am Monday from Simeons United Lutheran Church, Gratz. The Rev. Barry Ridge will officiate. Internment will be in Union Cemetery, Gratz. Reed Funeral Home, Pillow, is in charge of arrangements.
Pottsville Republican (Pottsville, Pennsylvania), 07 May 1994, Sat, Page 2.⁶
She was buried on 9 May 1994, at Simeon United Lutheran Church Cemetery, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA.^6,1