Kermit K. Kistler

Kermit K. Kistler

owner farm machinery business
Entrepreneur and businessman Kermit Karl Kistler, 94, died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008, in Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township.

Kistler and his wife Beatrice A. (Ebert) Kistler, were married by the late Rev. Clarence Rahn in his home on Sept. 5, 1936.

The son of the late Frederick W. and Blanche P. (Krause) Kistler, he was born in Best Station on April 2, 1913.

He graduated from the former North Whitehall Township School System and the former Slatington High School in 1932.

Kistler worked many jobs including trapping, as a baker at the former Krause Bakery in Neffs, and as a mechanic at the former J.M. Snyder and Son and Kelchner garages in Neffs.

He also was employed at the former Keystone Lamp Works and Graver Tank Co.

He was an independent trucker, hauling coal and potatoes.During World War II, he worked at the former Bethlehem Steel machining large gun barrels and ship propeller drive shafts.

He started a welding business out of his home garage and later purchased land and erected a block building on which he built potato diggers and dump trailers.

He purchased a local farm, cleared and farmed the land.

He sold Esso gas, TVs and took on contracts with Massey-Harris farm machinery, Friend sprayers, Woods rotary cutters, New Holland, and ATC Terratrac crawlers.He partnered with Irwin Bamberger to operate the Bamberger/Kistler Gas Station, now the Plaza in New Tripoli.

Kistler also owned the Suzuki Cycle Center on 7th Street in Allentown during the 1960s.He purchased the former Lehigh Exchange in Germansville along with the John Deere franchise.

He moved the John Deere business to Lynnport where it is operated by his daughter Joan Staudt and son Ronald.

Over the years, he enjoyed talking to his many customers and exchanging Pennsylvania Dutch humor.

His hobbies included motorcycling, snowmobiling and collecting antique engines, tractors and toys.

He was also an avid polka music fan, frequently playing the harmonica or accordion. An early highlight of his life was a ride in an automobile driven by Jack Mack.

Jack, a founder of Mack Trucks, was an acquaintance of his father, one of the first Ford automobile dealers in the area.

Kistler was a member of Jacob's Church in Jacksonville and a life member of the Lynnport Community Fire Company, the Ontelaunee Rod and Gun Club and the Lehigh County Farm Bureau.

He was a charter member of the Antique Engine, Tractor and Farm Toy Club.He is survived by his wife and son, Ronald K. Kistler at home in Lynnport, and his daughters, Joan E. Staudt and her husband Curtis, also of Lynnport, Diane E. Roberts and her husband Ronald of Fogelsville, and Elaine E. Mayhew and her husband Allison of Dillsburg.

He has seven grandchildren, Cheryl Boyer, Ehren Staudt, Eric Staudt, Angela Bristow, Daniel Roberts, Michelle Smith and Stephen Mayhew; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by a son, Karl, and a sister, Eleanor.Arrangements for his funeral were made by the Heintzelman Funeral Home, Schnecksville.

The family has asked that memorial contributions be made to the Lynnport Community Fire Company and to the Northwestern Ambulance Corps, both in c/o the funeral home.