June (Conrad) Benner

On Oct. 19, 2020, at 2 a.m., Heaven gained a new angel when June (Conrad) Heintzelman Benner, of Northumberland and formerly of Sunbury, passed away peacefully from this life.

June was born Oct. 28, 1927, in Sunbury, a daughter of the late Wilbert and Susanna (Lenker) Conrad. She was the fourth of 14 siblings. At the age of four she moved “to town” where she was raised by Ward and Flossie Walter, but remained very close to her parents and siblings.

June married John I. Heintzelman on Dec. 30, 1951, at Zion Lutheran Church, Sunbury. June and John raised four daughters and celebrated 25 years of marriage before his passing on May 3, 1977. On June 6, 1981, June married Jack W. Benner and spent 23 years with him until his passing on Oct. 1, 2004. She was engaged to Rudolph P. Ries until his passing on March 7, 2013.

June attended Sunbury schools graduating in 1945. In 1951 she graduated from the American Institute of Banking. She worked for First National Trust Bank for 45 years. Even after retiring she continued to work for the bank part-time until finally retiring for good at age 79. June also sold Avon for 49 years, winning many sales awards. She was well known for the Christmas sales she held at her home.

June was a long time active member of Otterbein United Methodist Church, Sunbury, where she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and was chosen as Woman of the Year. She was a member of Business and Professional Women and served as the inspector of elections for the 6th Ward of Sunbury for many years.

June loved to read and do word search puzzles. Despite never having learned to drive, June was quite the traveler, taking many bus trips with her sisters and friends. She loved her trips to Florida to visit her daughter and family there. It is a surprise that there are any shells left on Sanibel Island, as she brought so many home.

June was a devoted sister, mother and grandmother, making five generations with the birth of her great-great-grandson. She was loved by all who knew her. She will be greatly missed by her daughters, Julie Albright and husband David, Jan Zerbe and husband Mike, Jamie Brown and husband,Edwin “Butch” and Jennifer Karge and companion Chuck Kantz; grandchildren, Dustin Albright, Jentine Mosdal, Dominic Balducci, John Joseph Balducci, Rachel Quiroz, Ariel Brown, Morgan Karge, Josette Barthule and Jazmine Zerbe, as well as their spouses and companions; great-grandchildren, Chelsi, Ivy, Aaron Jr., Andrew, Elijah, Mateo, Weston and Hudson; and great-great-grandson, Jaxon. She will also be greatly missed by sisters, Helen Reitz, Shirley Ward and Doris Conrad; brothers, Stanley and wife Dorothy and Jerry Conrad; as well as sisters-in-law, Lena, Caroline and Marg Conrad, and many nieces, nephews and friends, particularly her lifelong friend, Mary Rogers.

Along with her parents, husbands and fiancé she was preceded in death by brothers, Dave, Lee, George and Steve Conrad, Ralph and wife Mildred Conrad, Bud and wife Dorothy Conrad; sisters, Elsie and husband, Hugh Cross, Viola and husband, Art Mangle; brothers-in-law, Charles Reitz and Bill Ward; sister-in-law, Dorrie Conrad; and two daughters in infancy, Jean Louise, twin to Jamie and Baby Girl Heintzelman.

Funeral services will be private and family will provide flowers.

Burial, along side her husband John, will be in Pomfret Manor Cemetery, Sunbury.

Memorial contributions can be made to Otterbein United Methodist Church, Sunbury or to a favorite charity.

Arrangements are by the Zweier Funeral Home, 157 Chestnut St., Sunbury.

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