Kutztown, passed away peacefully on
Saturday, November 4, 2017, in The
Lutheran Home at Topton. His loving wife of 59 years, Barbara Ann (Focht) Held, passed away two weeks prior, on October 22, 2017.
Born in Reading, Pa., on October 9, 1935, Marcus was the son of the late Marcus G. Sr. and Edna M. (Adams) Held. He was a 1953 graduate of Kutztown Area High School and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business in 1958, from Pennsylvania State University, where he was a Life Member of the Alumni Association since 1958.
Marcus honorably and faithfully served his country in the Air National Guard from 1958 to 1964. He was a
member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Kutztown, serving on the Consistory as a Deacon, from 1966 -1968, and Elder, from 1972-1975, also serving as President of the Church Consistory from 1974 to 1975. He served on the Member Building Committee from 1969 to 1970. He was
also a member of St. John's United Church of Christ,
Kutztown, from 2008 to 2017.
Marcus was employed at the former Held's Appliance Store, Kutztown, from 1958 to 1982, Radio Electric Service Co., Allentown, from 1982 to 1985, and Bieber Tourways, Kutztown, from 1989 until his retirement. From 1964 to 1965, he was the President of the Kutztown Merchants
Association, 1963 to 1964 he was the Home Show
Chairman, and he served as president from 1972 to 1973. From 1969 to 1970, Marcus was the president of the
Kutztown Jaycees and was a State Director from 1970 to 1971.
In 1970, Marcus was named the Town's Outstanding Young Man, in 1968, he was named the Jaycee of the Year, 1970, Pennsylvania Jaycees 3rd Place Eyerman Award, 1971, Kutztown Jaycee "Key Man" and in 1971 he received the Pennsylvania Jaycees 3rd Place Morgan J. Doughton Award. In 1973, he received the J.C.I. Senatorship #15531.
From 1970 to 1971, Marcus was the Regional Vice
President of the Pennsylvania Jaycees, and also the State Blue Chip Program Manager from 1971 to 1972. In 1967, he was the Fund Raising Chairman for the East Penn Valley Y.M.C.A., and served on the Board of Directors from 1968 to 1974.
Active in the Masonic Lodge, Marcus was the Worshipful Master of Huguenot Lodge #377, F. & A.M. in 1967,
Chairman of the Fund Raising Committee at Kutztown Temple Association, from 1969 to1971, and Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1973 to 1985. He was a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite-Valley of Reading since 1966, to 2001. He was a member of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine - Rajah Temple from 1980 to 2001.
He was a Cub Pack #101 Committee Chairman, from 1970 to 1971, and was a Cub Master from 1972 to 1978, with the Boy Scouts of America, Kutztown Chapter. He served on the Executive Committee of the Kutztown Fair
Association Board from 1981 to 1984, and also was
President from 1985 to 2003. From 1984 to 1988, he was the Ways and Means Co-Chairman for the Kutztown
Historical Society. He was a board member of the
Kutztown Pennsylvania German Festival from 1996 to 2003.
Marcus joined the Kutztown Lions Club, in 1976, and served as 3rd Vice President from 1980 to 1981, 1st Vice President, from 1981 to 1982, and President from 1982 to 1983. He served as the Director from 2003 until 2005. Marcus had over 23 years of perfect attendance. He was a delegate to 9 State Conventions and 6 International
Conventions. In 1984, he received the Key Member Award. At the District Level, in 1983-1984, he served as Zone Chairman, 1984-1986 he was the Chairman of the Delaware Valley Eye Bank, 1986 to1987 he was the Deputy District Governor and served on the Governor's Ball Committee. In 1987-1988, he was the White Cane Chairman. In 1988-1989, he was the District Governor- District 14-P. He received the Lions International Melvin Jones Fellowship in 1989 and the Pennsylvania Lions Foundation Fellowship in 2002.
Marcus also received the following awards: Honorary Chapter Farmer – Kutztown F.F.A., 1970, and Kutztown Grange – Citizen of the Year, 1978.
Marcus is survived by his three children: daughter, Pat L. (Held), wife of Jerry Yanavok, Saylorsburg, son, Bruce M., husband of Annie M. (Rostkowski) Held, Sinking Spring, and daughter, Jen C. (Held), wife of Robert R. Shick Jr., Fleetwood; six grandchildren: Jason Harrigle, of Whitehall, Greg Harrigle, husband of Andrea, of Whitehall, Ryan Held, husband of Stephanie Dymek, of Camp Hill, Eric Held, of Malvern, Brett Shick, of Auburn, and Brittany Shick, of Fleetwood; five great-grandchildren: Flora, Mya, Greyson, Brynlee and Landon; and a brother, Kenneth Held, and his wife, Vicki, of Kutztown.
A funeral service to celebrate Marcus's life will be held on Friday, November 10, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in Saint Paul's
United Church of Christ, 47 S. Whiteoak Street, Kutztown, with Reverend John B. Davies, officiating. Military honors will follow the service. Relatives and friends are invited to a viewing on Thursday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Ludwick Funeral Homes Inc., 333 Greenwich Street,
Kutztown; and again on Friday morning from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the church. A Masonic Service by Huguenot Lodge #377, F. & A.M., Kutztown, will be held on Thursday evening at 8:30 p.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be
private in Becker's St. Peter's Cemetery, Richmond
Township. Please wear your Blue and White on Thursday and Friday to honor Marcus's love for Penn State!
The family requests that contributions be made in
Marcus's memory to Kutztown Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 307, Kutztown, PA 19530-0307.
Ludwick Funeral Homes, Inc., Kutztown, is in charge of arrangements.
Memories and condolences may be made at
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Althea Fetherolf
November 6, 2017
condolences to the Held family children. May your memories of your parents comfort you in this time of sorrow. I'll always remember him from KAHS days.
SaraJane Munshower
November 5, 2017
With fond memories of both your parents and prayers for your comfort, SaraJane Munshower
Gayle Maddox
November 5, 2017
To Bruce, Annie and all of the Held family, I am truly sorry for your losses over these past 2 weeks. It is more than any family should endure, but the strength of your family will guide you through this very difficult time.
November 5, 2017
My Prayers and hope for peace to the Held family. I have known your parents since childhood and they were both a great influence on me in healthcare, scouting, and the church. Your parents were a great example of people doing Gods work and serving their neighbors.
Please forgive me for not being able to attend either ,of the services. Work is getting in the way.
Your mom always said she would have loved to ride along with me if she were younger. I hope she rides along with me now and suspect she will bring dad along.
Gods Peace!!!
Eric Bubbenmoyer and family
George and Ruth Erb
November 5, 2017
I was very saddened to hear about Marcus, and want to pass on to his family and friends our sympathies and hope this message gives them some comfort in their loss.
Marcus and I were the best of friends since childhood and did many things together in those years. He was always my partner during all the Boy Scout campouts during our younger years and my roommate freshman year at Penn State.
I was honored to be in his wedding party when he and Barbara were married, and always visited them whenever I got back to Kutztown.
I'm glad we had a nice lunch together at the Airport Diner in 2015 on my last visit to Kutztown and seeing him briefly again at the Bicentennial Celebrations.
Lots of good memories. Now he and Barbara are again together in Heaven in Jesus' eternal care.
Macht's Gut! My good friend.
George Erb
Gilroy, California
Candice & Richard Kutz
November 5, 2017
To all the Held kids your father was a great person & Love everyone of you. He was so proud of everyone o you. This is very hard on all of you in a short time of the passing on both of your parents. But you all have the great memories of your parents to keep close to your Hearts. Your Mother & Father are together again the way your father wanted at this time. Patti my Brian said I should tell you that this is very sad & remember that your Mother & Dad Love all of you very much.
Ramona Kehl
November 5, 2017
Sorry for ur loss prayers
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Ludwick Funeral Homes and Cremation Care, Inc. - Kutztown333 Greenwich Street PO Box 292, Kutztown, PA 19530 0292
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Ludwick Funeral Homes and Cremation Care, Inc. - Kutztown333 Greenwich Street PO Box 292, Kutztown, PA 19530 0292
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Ludwick Funeral Homes and Cremation Care, Inc. - Kutztown333 Greenwich Street PO Box 292, Kutztown, PA 19530 0292
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