Skook News Obituaries: April 12th, 2026
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
📩 Daily Schuylkill County Obituary Alerts in Your Inbox
---------------------------------------------------
.webp)
Born in East Penn Township, Earl was a son of the late Marvin and Edna (Haberman) Knappenberger. A 1952 graduate of Lehighton High School, he spent many years working as a rigger at Bethlehem Steel. Over the course of his career, he was also employed by Charles Eberts Construction, West Electric, M&S Hardware in Tamaqua, Arner Auctioneers, and New Jersey Zinc, a position from which he retired.
Earl was deeply involved in his community and gave generously of his time. He was a life member of the Andreas Sporting Club and dedicated many years to coaching Ashfield Little League. He also played with the former Ben Salem softball team. A lifelong love of music led him to perform as a member of the Freemen Quartet at Christ Evangelical Free Church, as well as with several area bands, including the Ben Salem and Parryville Band, the Lehighton Men’s Band, and the Starlighters Band. An avid fan of the Baltimore Orioles and the Baltimore Colts, Earl also enjoyed gardening and hunting. He and his wife, Shirley, shared a love of music and regularly participated in numerous church cantatas over the years. Earl was a faithful member of Christ Evangelical Free Church in Lehighton.
Earl is survived by his wife, Shirley; two sons, David Knappenberger and his wife, Milissa, of Jim Thorpe, and Jason Knappenberger and his wife, Jennifer, of Kernersville, North Carolina; one daughter, Debra Knappenberger and her companion, David Muffley; one brother, Gerald Knappenberger and his companion, Judy, of Ashfield; one sister, Lavaun Shanton of Tamaqua; five grandchildren, Amber, David, Danielle, Saige, and Gavin; five great-grandchildren, Hailey, Leah, Piper, Brooklyn, and Louisa; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and one grandson, Jeremy.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Christ Evangelical Free Church, 2420 Blakeslee Boulevard Drive West, Lehighton, with Pastor Eric Hoehn officiating. Interment in Dinkey Memorial Church Cemetery, 1742 Dinkey Road, Lehighton, will follow at 2:00 PM. Friends and family may call from 9:00-11:00 AM at the church.
Memorial donations in Earl’s name may be made to Christ Evangelical Free Church, 2420 Blakeslee Boulevard Drive West, Lehighton, PA 18235. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Andrew P. Ovsak Funeral Home of Lehighton and the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Tamaqua.
---------------------------------------------------
Obituaries from the past 7 Days
--------------------------
These obituaries are being brought to by Mark J. Hummel Funeral Home, Frackville
