Rev. John Bernheisel

YORK Rev. John G. Bernheisel, 93, died Friday, November 28, 2014, at York Lutheran Retirement Village at Sprenkle Drive. He was the husband of Dorcas Leckrone Bernheisel of York. They were married April 22, 1995. He also had been married to the late Virginia Glessner Bernheisel who died June 22, 1993. Born September 3, 1921, in Loysville, Perry County, he was the son of the late John Lee and Lottie Belle (Gross) Bernheisel. In addition to his wife, Dorcas, he is survived by two sons, David Robert Bernheisel and his wife, Christina of Crowley, Texas, and John Mark Bernheisel and his wife, Marilyn of Ivyland, Pa; daughter, Beth Marie Bigler and her husband, Thomas of Lancaster; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; four step children; and seven step grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, Dr. James L. Bernheisel. Rev. Bernheisel was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church and retired as a Lutheran pastor on February 21, 1983. He was a 1938 graduate of William Penn Senior High School. Rev. Bernheisel graduated in 1947 from Gettysburg College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He received his Bachelor of Divinity in 1949 and Master of Sacred Theology in 1962, both from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. Rev. Bernheisel was ordained May 1949 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church. His 47 years of ministry included serving Emanuel Lutheran Church, Windsor Park, York; St. Jacobs Lutheran Church, York New Salem; St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Stoverstown; First Lutheran Church, Mifflinburg; Dreisbach Lutheran Church, Lewisburg; Zion Lutheran Church, Hummelstown; and St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Columbia. Upon his retirement, Rev. Bernheisel continued as interim pastor at many local Lutheran churches. Throughout his calling, Rev. Bernheisel also initiated several community ministries and served on many boards of the Central Pennsylvania Synod. Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 4, 2014, at 11 a.m. at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 839 W. Market St., York, with his pastors, the Rev. Kevin T. Shively and the Rev. Keith C. Fair officiating. Burial will be in Susquehanna Memorial Gardens. A viewing will be held Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 839 W. Market St., York, PA 17401. Arrangements by the Etzweiler Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, 1111 E. Market St., York, PA 17403. www.etzweilerfuneralhome.com