William S. Hollenbach

William S. Hollenbach, 83, a resident of Villa at Morlatton, Douglassville, and formerly of Boyertown, died in the evening of April 24, 2008, in Pottstown Memorial Medical Center.

He was the husband of Jane E. (Griffith) Hollenbach; the late Norma O. (Schantzenbach) Hollenbach; and the late Vera (Gravatt) Taylor Hollenbach,

Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late Frederick J. and Escie (Reichert) Hollenbach.

Mr. Hollenbach was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, serving as a first lieutenant in CBI.

He was a Penn State University graduate with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering. He was a member and past president of the Sigma Pi Fraternity.

He was the president of W. Hollenbach Co., Boyertown, for 41 years before retiring in 1989.

Mr. Hollenbach was an associate member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Boyertown, where he had served on church council, and chairman of the property committee, marketing committee and endowment committee . He was currently a member of St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, Douglassville.

Mr. Hollenbach also served on the Boyertown Water Authority and the Boyertown Employee and Police Retirement committee. He was also a member of the Middle Atlantic Lumberman's Association, where he served as past chairman of the Retirement Trust and the Insurance Trust.

In 1996, Mr. Hollenbach was recognized as the Boyertown Citizen of the Year. He was selected for the honor for his part in rejuvenating the Boyertown area economy through numerous business ventures, as well as his commitment to community service.

He and his son were co-owners of Hollenbach Home Center in the mid 1980s. Mr. Hollenbach's latest accomplishment before his selection was his work with a coalition of area businessmen to build the Walnut Acres retirement complex.

Mr. Hollenbach was one of the founding members of the Boyertown Jaycees chapter in 1950, as well as having had affiliations with the Boyertown Rotary Club, Boyertown Area YMCA, the Tri-County Area Chamber of Commerce and St. John's Lutheran Church, Boyertown. More recently, since 2001 he was the co-founder and president of Pro Tool Industries Inc., Boyertown.

Mr. Hollenbach was an avid tennis player and thoroughly enjoyed traveling.

Surviving in addition to his wife is a son, W. James Hollenbach, husband of Sharon A., Gilbertsville; a daughter, Priscilla A., wife of Charles N. Anderson, Mount Upton, N.Y.; two stepsons, Mark G. Scheifley, husband of Linda M., of Pottstown; and Jack Taylor, Boyertown, and a step-daughter, Sherry, wife of Kenneth Fillman, Boyertown.

Other survivors include four grandchildren: Stephanie and Andrew Hollenbach; Megan O'Shaughnessy; and Corin Anderson; nine step grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

He was predeceased by two stepdaughters; two brothers, John and Frederick Hollenbach; and a sister, Kathryn Schmoyer.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. John's Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown, with the Rev. John G. Pearson and Father Calvin Adams officiating. Burial will be private in St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church Cemetery, Douglassville.

Contributions may be made in his memory to St. John's Lutheran Church, Hollenbach Family Endowment Fund, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown, PA 19512; St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, Endowment Fund, Route 422 East, Douglassville, PA 19518; or Boyertown YMCA, 301 W. Spring St., Boyertown PA 19512.

The Catagnus Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 1020 Philadelphia Ave., Gilbertsville, is in charge of arrangements.