It was on Palm Sunday, April 2, 1939, that death suddenly took Francis M. Berkemeyer, for many years one of the Lehigh County Historical Society's leading and most active members, a prominent businessman, sincere layman in the work of the Reformed Church and earnest member and officer of various Masonic bodies of Allentown.

Mr. Berkemeyer, who was 72 years of age, was ill but a few days and only two days before his death had been active in supervising the work of his printery in which business he had been engaged in some phase or other for 45 years.

Mr. Berkerneyer was a son of Dr. and Mrs. Louis C. Berkemeyer and was born Feb. 15, 1867, in Ashland, Carbon County, when his father was practicing medicine there. Later the family moved to Kutztown where Dr. Berkemeyer conducted a drug store in connection with his practice.

Desiring to become a druggist, after studying in the public schools and at Keystone State Normal School in Kutztown, Mr. Berkemeyer went to Philadelphia and prepared for his profession in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. After his graduation, he worked in various drug stores in that city.

In 1894 he joined his late brother Charles and Fred M. Bechtel in forming the printing firm of Berkerneyer, Bechtel and Co., in this city. After some years Mr. Bechtel withdrew his interests and the late Ray N. Keck was admitted to the firm. The name was changed to Berkcmeyer, Keck & Co. In 1932 he became the sole owner of the printing business, continuing to his death.

Another brother, Robert, preceded Mr. Berkemeyer in death.

He was married to Mary A. Neff of Kutztown in 1889. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary March 17, 1939.

Mrs. Bcrketneycr survives with two daughters, Ruth L., a teacher in the McKinley School, and Anna M., one of the nurses in the Allentown public schools. An infant son preceded Mr. Berkemeyer in death.

Three sisters also survive. They are Mrs. David A. Miller of this city and the Misses Annie and Charlotte Berkemeyer of Los Angeles, Calif.

Mr. Berkemeyer was a leader in Reformed Church circles for many years. Since the Laymen's movement in 1909, his services were much in demand as a lay speaker. He spoke in most of the churches of the Eastern Synod, particularly in the interest of foreign mission work. He was a member of St. James Evangelical and Reformed church and had served as elder.

He was also a leader in Masonic circles. When Jordan Lodge No. 673. F. and A. M., was organized 25 years ago, Mr. Berkenieyer was elected secretary and continued in that office until his death. He was a member of Constantine lodge No. 1113, I. O. O. F., and of Post L, T. P. A.

Funeral services were held on April 6 at his late home and interment was made in Hope Cemetery, Kutztown.

An attempt to measure the influence of this man in his community and the loss incurred by his death was thus phrased by an editorial in the Morning Call:

"Thruout this city in business circles there will be sincere regret at the passing of a man who has been identified with business life for more than a generation. Throughout the large and far-flung membership of one of the city's largest and most important fraternal bodies there will be a sense of loss at the passing of a real friend to each and every member thereof. Thruout the large and important religious sect, of which he was a devout and militant member and in which he was known farther and wider and more favorably than is the lot of any but a very few laymen, there will be sincere mourning at his passing, but true consolation in contemplation of the fact that he fought a good fight, that he finished his course, that he kept the faith."