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Donald Paul Hallacher, of Londonderry Village in Palmyra, Pa., died on December 8, 2018, at the age of 90.
He was born on October 15, 1928, in the room above Hallacher's Store, 102 Penn
Avenue, Sinking Spring, Pa. He was the son of Paul E. and Mattie May (Kemp) Hallacher.
He was given the nickname "Duke" at an early age by his father, which stuck for his entire life. Duke Hallacher had just one sibling, the late Virginia Lambert, whom he dearly loved.
In his early years, the Hallacher's Store was a center of local activity and he would later regale family and friends alike with tales of his childhood exploits in rural Berks County.
On June 10, 1950, he married Virginia May Fegley, of Quakake, Pa., and they remained married for 68 years until his death. They made their home in Reading and raised four children there.
He is survived by his wife who continues to reside at
Londonderry Village; his daughters, Lydia Greiner (Phil), of San Diego, Calif., and Leslie Crosley (Kevin), of Clinton, N.Y.; and his sons, Paul (Rhea), of State College, Pa., and Mark (Debbie), of Reading, Pa.; plus nine grandchildren.
Duke Hallacher graduated from Sinking Spring High School in 1946, and for the next 25 years worked in the food industry; first operating the family store in Sinking Spring and then taking employment with the Heinz Company and later the Walter A. Sions Company.
While working for Sions, in 1964 at age 36, he entered Kutztown State College as an incoming part-time
freshman. Today, non-traditional students are common on college campuses, but not so in the 1960s. This is one of many examples of how Don Hallacher cut his own path in life and, in many ways, was frequently ahead of his time.
After six years of part-time study, in 1972, he was awarded the Bachelor of Science in Education, left the Sions
Company and became a third-grade teacher in the Reading School District. In 1975, he received his Master of
Education degree from Kutztown.
Camping was a great love, and in the summer of 1970, he took his family on a road trip across the United States in a Chevy Biscayne wagon towing a hand painted, tiger-striped pop-up camper, complete with a tail. Then, from
1978-1985, he and his wife hiked across the U.S., carrying backpacks and sleeping in a tent. They accomplished this feat first by hiking from Point Pleasant, N.J., to Kearney, Neb., in 200- to 300-mile stretches each summer between 1978-1984; and then in 1985, Duke took a sabbatical from his teaching job and they trekked from Kearney to the
Oregon coast. In the years that followed, they gave many talks to interested groups about their fascinating
experiences on this great journey.
He had a lifelong love of the arts and in his later years he took up watercolor painting in earnest. In his last two
decades, he produced dozens of watercolors, including many landscapes inspired by his cross-country trips. Many of these he sold at local art shows and others are cherished by his children and grandchildren.
He was a Mason and a member of St. Johns Lodge #435 Reading, PA for 55 years. He was a faithful member of the Church of the Brethren. He was a modest and dignified man with a wonderful sense of humor. He loved his family, his country and its people. He encouraged and instilled in all of his children intellectual curiosity and independence of mind. Above all, he taught his children tolerance and
acceptance of others. He was kind and generous of spirit and he helped many people in ways large and small. His most treasured advice to us is that we be selective, and choose what is good as we each walk our own path--and never that of another. May he rest in peace.
A visitation will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 28, 2018, at the DiMatteo Worship Center of Londonderry
Village, 1200 Grubb Road, Palmyra, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Good Samaritan Fund of Londonderry Village, 1200 Grubb Road, Palmyra, PA 17078.
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6 Entries
You are in my prayers Jenny and I hope to see you at the Memorial service
Kathy Thrapp
December 17, 2018
Sad and sorry for your loss of your Father. Prayers for you all.
Jennis Blanchard
December 15, 2018
Leslie and family, so very sorry for the loss of your father. Losing a parent is such a difficult part of life, but what a joy it must have been to have him as your dad. He made such an impression that will never go away as long as you keep his love in your heart. God Bless !
Carol Stuebner
December 14, 2018
Mr. Hallacher was my third grade teacher at 13th & Union. He not only taught me my times tables, but also how to draw, how to write with my left hand, and a genuine love of learning. He regaled us with tales of his hikes and inspired curiosity of the world around us. We were into the Muppets at the time so he let us make puppets, props, and a script for a puppet show. I will never forget the magic of being 8 years old thanks to Mr. Hallacher. He truly made learning fun and is one of the reasons I became a teacher myself. May he rest in peace and his family know that he left a lasting legacy on his students.
Gina (Lucchese) Bowers
December 13, 2018
To "Dukes" family I want to express my condolences. I lived close to Duke in the area known a Nappyvile in the 40's and 50's. RIP
December 13, 2018
Mark, my condolences on the loss of your dad. My memories of him and your mom at the gigs you played with us have never left me. My dad passed last year at this time at the same age. My life still is very empty without him, for having a best friend for 90 years is a really long time. God bless you and your family.
Sincerely,
Bruce W
Bruce W Heffner
December 13, 2018
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