Ernest Leroy Deem

Ernest Leroy Deem, aged 77 years and a lifetime resident of West Penn Township, New Ringgold, Pennsylvania died on Thursday, December 20, 2018 while a patient at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest, Allentown, Pennsylvania. Born Sunday, December 7, 1941 in New Ringgold, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Walter Deem and the late Virgie Blew Deem. He was the beloved husband of Donna (Stahler) Deem and they celebrated 49 years of marriage in May, 2018. He is also survived by;  sons, Dean E. Deem and his wife, Kim of New Ringgold,  Todd A. Deem and his wife, Lori of New Ringgold,  Christian L. Deem of New Ringgold;  grand children,  Todd Deem II, James Deem, Zachary Deem, Elaine Deem and Mackenzie Smith; 2 great grand children - Fey and Aria Deem. Ernie is also survived by his mother in law, Bertha B. (Bailey) Stahler. Ernie was the last surviving of his siblings and was predeceased by- Verna Kline, Helen McKeever, Ruth Brown, Leah Gerber, Kenneth Deem, Lamar Deem, Phyllis Hoppes and Francis Deem. Ernie was a graduate of Tamaqua Area High School Class of 1960 and served honorably in the United States Army 1961-1965, attaining the rank of Specialist Five while serving in Germany during the Vietnam Era. Upon returning home, he was employed by the former B.A. Deem Excavating Co. of New Ringgold. He was in the first class of civilian examiners in the PA Department of Transportation in Reading, PA. In 1991, Ernie retired as a PA State Trooper. He then worked for 17 years as a bus driver for Kistler  Transportation.  Ernie was a former West Penn Township Supervisor.  In addition, he was a member of the Little Acorn Sporting Club and a life member of Phillip C. Melley FOP Lodge #65, Reading, PA.   Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to the Robert S. Nester Funeral Home and Cremation Service Inc., 2066 West Penn Pike, New Ringgold, PA 17960, 570-386-5884. A Funeral Service will be held from the funeral home on Thursday December 27, 2018 at 11 o'clock a.m.,  Friends may call Wednesday evening December 26, 2018 from 6:00-8:00 P.M. from the funeral home. State Police & Military Honors will be bestowed graveside at Zion Stone Church Cemetery, New Ringgold, Pennsylvania. Memorials in his name may be sent to: The Tamaqua / Carbon American Cancer Society 712 S. Keyser Ave. Taylor, Pennsylvania 18517 Online condolences can be made to the family at www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com