Rev. John F. Sammel

Rev. John Frederick Sammel 84 of  282 Three Oak Lane, Bedford, died Tuesday May 23, 2000 at his home.  He was born December 5, 1915 in Bedford son of the the late Fred S. and (Russell) Sammel.  On July 31, 1971 he married Joyce (Rabenold) Coover.  She survives, along with the following children: J. F. “Fred” Sammel, married to the former Doris Shandell, Hartsdale, N.Y. , Jane wife Dr. Donald Misch, Chapel Hill, N.C. , Mary Belle, wife of Michael Dukes, Palo Alto, Calif. Ann, wife of Wesley Bates, Columbus, Ohio, Christine, Wife of Williams Braun, Evanston, Ill, a Step-son William J. Coover Jr., Boston, Mass. And a foster-son Jerrold Conway, married to the former Jan Wolfe, Bedford.  Also surviving are five grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and three foster-grandchildren.  Rev. Sammel graduated from Bedford High School in 1933, Penn State University in 1937, and Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg in 1941.  He was ordained a Lutheran pastor on May 20, 1942.  He served McConnellsburg Lutheran Parish from 1941-1944 before enlisting in the U>S> Navy where he was assigned to Chaplaincy in the US Marine Corps, he ended his tour of duty with six months service in northern China.  He was discharged in 1945 and then served Memorial Lutheran Church, Shippensburg, 1946-1957 and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Cumberland, MD 1957-1969. After his official retirement he served as supply pastor in many area church, inclosing a nine month period as interim pastor at Moxham Lutheran Church, Johnstown and eight months as interim pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Clearfield.  In 1973 he accepted a call to serve Yeager Memorial Lutheran Church, Rainsburg, At the end of that year he agreed to also serve Zion Lutheran Church, Cedarville.  He actively served as pastor of the Friends Cove-Clearville Lutheran Parish until illness forced him to step down at the beginning of this year.  He was a member of the Everett American Legion.  Funeral Services: 3 PM Sunday May 28, 2000 at Yeager Memorial Lutheran Church with the Rev. Gregory Pile, Bishop Allegheny Senate of E.L.C.A.  Officiating.  Burial at the Woods Church Cemetery with military rites conducted by the Everett Honor Guard.  Friends will be received 4-8 PM Saturday at the Timothy A. Berkebile Funeral Home, Bedford,  Memorial Contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, Clearville, c/o Margaret Schreiber 8400 Clear Ridge Road, Clearville, Pa.  15535, or Yeager Memorial Lutheran Church, c/o Gene Shaffer 7945 Main Road., Bedford, Pa.  15522