Donald R. Kerstetter

Donald R. Kerstetter

Mifflinburg, PA

Donald R. “Dick” Kerstetter, 89, of rural Mifflinburg, died Wednesday morning, November 13, 2024, at his home near New Berlin.

He was born September 11, 1935, in rural Snyder County, a son of the late Clair D. and Olive (Gelnett) Kerstetter, and a grandson of the late Dervin S. and Elizabeth C. (Bohner) Kerstetter and the late H. Melvin and Sallie (Shaffer) Gelnett.

On January 16, 1954, he married the former Dorothy Faye Kreamer, with whom he shared 64 years of marriage before her death on August 14, 2018.

Dick graduated from Mifflinburg High School, where he played football and wrestled.  He later played softball for Penns Creek, where he lived for many years.

Immediately after high school, he worked at Wood and Metal (Wood-Mode) in Kreamer and then Colonial Products (Yorktowne Kitchens) in Mifflinburg before becoming a correctional officer, first at the federal penitentiary in Danbury, Conn., and then at the federal penitentiary in Lewisburg, from which he retired after 20 years.

Dick loved to hunt, especially deer at his grandfather Gelnett’s farm near Meiserville and on New Berlin Mountain, where he built his hunting cabin.  But his greatest pleasure came from spending quality time with his grandchildren and attending their sporting events, from football to field hockey.

He was a gifted handyman and could design, repair, build or invent almost anything imaginable, and some things unimaginable, often in mind-boggling ways.  And, whenever anyone – anyone – needed help with a project of any kind, he was the first to volunteer and the last to leave after the job was done.

Dick is survived by his three children, Richard A. Kerstetter of rural Mifflinburg, Sharon K. Herbster and her husband Scott of Middleburg, and Jeffrey W. Kerstetter of rural Union County; by his five grandchildren, whom he loved with all his being: Kelly Herbster Martin and her husband, Doug, of Mechanicsburg; Renee Herbster of Middleburg; Yvonne Herbster Cherry and her husband, Steve, of Mechanicsburg; Dr. Trevor Kerstetter, and his wife, Liz, of Philadelphia; and Haley Kerstetter and her fiancé, Mike Rose, of Boston; and by his three precious great-granddaughters, Chloe Cherry, Juliet Martin, and Lainey Cherry.  He is also survived by two sisters, Ruth Wert and Patsy Unger, both of Mifflinburg; and sisters-in-law, Delores (Moyer) Kerstetter of rural Lewisburg and Lucille (Zieber) Kreamer of Troxelville; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and their children.

In addition to his wife, parents and grandparents, he was predeceased by a son, Clair Irvin Kerstetter at birth; brothers, Robert C. Kerstetter, Carl H. Kerstetter, and Gary L. Kerstetter; sister, Connie (Kerstetter) Napp; brothers-in-law, Arthur K. Wert, Mardean R. Napp, James M. Unger, Emmit L. Kreamer, John F. Kreamer, Harold H. Walter, Curvin E. Keister, Lloyd Irvin Kreamer, Paul R. Kreamer, and Kenneth Asher Kreamer; and sisters-in-law, Joan (Hummel) Kerstetter, Patricia (Baker) Kerstetter, Betty (Kreamer) Kreamer, Isabelle (Kreamer) Walter, Christabell (Kreamer) Keister, Marian (Reich) Kreamer, and Anna (Smith) Kreamer.

A graveside service, officiated by the Rev. Barry Rowe, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, in St. Thomas Cemetery, Meiserville.

During his final weeks, Dick received excellent professional and loving care from the nurses, aides, and volunteers of WellSpan Hospice of Evangelical Hospital.  Contributions in his memory can be made to WellSpan Hospice of Evangelical, 1 Hospital Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837.

The George P. Garman Funeral Homes, Inc. in Mount Pleasant Mills is in charge of arrangements.