Vaughn A. "Mike" Dunkelberger, 75, Paxinos

From The Daily Item Sat Mar 26, 2011, 06:13 PM EDT

— PAXINOS — Vaughn A. "Mike" Dunkelberger, 75, of Paxinos, passed peacefully onto the Lord at his residence on Friday, March 25, 2011, surrounded by his loving family and his beloved wife.

He was born July 24, 1935, in Trevorton, a son of the late Isacc and Geraldine Dunkelberger. On Aug. 18, 1961, in Zion Lutheran Church Hall, Port Trevorton, he married the former Beatrice M. Shaffer who survives.

He attended the Irish Valley grade school and Trevorton High School. From there he took over, at the age of 18, his grandfather and father's family farm, Grandvall Dairy Farm. Mike spent his entire life doing the one thing he loved most, farming. There was no other place he would rather be than out on his tractor putting in long days, tilling, planting and harvesting his crops only to come home and tend his beloved farm animals. When he wasn't doing his farming, he worked on the side at Split Vein as a dozer operator and Rossini's as a maintenance man. In March of 2000, when he was forced by health to retire, the family farm was handed down to another generation, marking it a five generation homestead, to his beloved grandson, Matthew. Everyday till the day he went home to the Lord, his heart was on the farm.

He was a 50 year member of both the Irish Valley United Methodist Church and the Dairymen's League.

In addition to his beloved wife of 49 years, he is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Kathy A. and Daniel Derck; four grandchildren, Matthew J. Hornberger and wife, Renee M., Stephen M. Hornberger and fiance, Aimee Snyder, Jarred S. Derck and fiance, Cassie Smith, and Anthony R. Derck; eight great-grandchildren, Brian, Annie, Caleb Vaughn, Daniel, Tanner and Mikaelyn Hornberger, and Phoebe and Ezekial Derck; two sisters, Peggy A. Pelly, of Lewisburg, and Margret E. Neidig, of Sunbury; brother and sister-in-law, Ralph and Kathrlyn Ferry, Bernard and Phyllis Shaffer, and Barbara and Leroy Stroup; many nieces, nephews and cousins; He was also a Pappy to many of the Valley children and never hesitated to open his home to them. He is also survived by extended family such as Kevin J. Schmoyer, Michael Thomas, and Allen "Butch" Sinko. And let us not forget his loved and faithful dog, Bozo.

He was preceded in death by one great-nephew, Kevin Thomas, and dear friends, Cleta Renn, William Dreher and Adam Chamberlain. Friends of who made their home with him.

Friends will be received from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at Irish Valley United Methodist Church, Paxinos, where the funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Burial will be in the adjoining church cemetery.

A meal will follow the funeral. It is being held at Masser's Banquet Hall and family and friends are invited to attend in memory of our loved one lost.

Funeral arrangements by the Jerre Wirt Blank Funeral Home, Sunbury.