We Remember Those Who Have Passed

Glen Robert ‘Branch’ Kreppel

BERLIN – Glen Robert "Branch" Kreppel, 44, beloved son, husband father and brother, died Friday, Nov. 28, 2008 at his home.

Born in Baltimore, he was preceded in death by his father, John F. Kreppel, Sr. He is survived by his mother, Beverly Joan Dorsey Kreppel; his wife, Tammy Lynn Kramer Kreppel; a son, Parker Kreppel; a daughter, Paige Kreppel; a brother, John F. "Tree" Kreppel, Jr. of Delmar; and two sisters, Catherine Louise Crouse of Littlestown, Pa. and Barbara Lynn Kreppel of Newark, Del.

Kreppel was a commercial diver and the owner of Divers Services Company.

Services were held. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105 or National Parkinson Foundation, Inc., Office of Development, 1501 NW 9th Ave, Miami, Fla. 33136-1494 or the American Heart Association, PO Box 5216, Glen Allen, Va. 23058-5216.

Arrangements by the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.

John F. Guntow III

OCEAN PINES – John F. Guntow III, 36, formerly of College Park, Md., died Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 at home.

Born in Washington, D.C., he was the son of John and Judy Guntow, Jr. of Ocean City. He is survived by a daughter, Addison P. Cook of Ocean City; a brother, Jeff Guntow of Ocean City; and a sister, Diana Sullivan of Prince Frederick, Md.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday, Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. at Holy Savior Catholic Church, 1705 Phil. Ave., Ocean City, Md. Friends and family may call between 10:30-11 a.m. at the church. Memorial donations may be made to Believe in Tomorrow House by the Sea, P.O. Box 3627, Ocean City, Md. 21843.

April Joy Eitel

OCEAN PINES – April Joy Eitel, age 20, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 at Atlantic General Hospital after a long, brave fight with liver failure.

Born in Baltimore she was the beloved daughter of George L. and Dolores M. Kucinski Eitel.

A compassionate, creative woman, she had a great love for animals and enjoyed horseback riding. She was quite a gourmet who enjoyed cooking for her family and sampling global cuisine. Other interests included creative writing, illustration, music, and movies. She will always be remembered for her quick wit, warm smile, undying friendship, and loving soul. She was a member of Sunrise Church in Berlin.

Along with her parents, she is survived by seven siblings, Christine Komons and her husband Tom of Falls Church, Va.; Matthew Eitel and his wife Cara of Bend, Ore.; Andrew Eitel and his wife Melanie of Edgewood, Md.; Joseph Eitel and James Eitel both of Maui, Haw.; Beth Steinbach and her husband Rob of Baltimore; and Samuel Eitel of Ocean Pines. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins and seven adored nieces and nephews.

One of her last requests was for people to donate blood to their local blood bank in lieu of sending flowers. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 10 a.m at Ocean City Worship Center in Berlin. Arrangements by the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.

Joanne Baker Johnson

BERILN – Joanne Baker Johnson, age 74, died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 at her home in Berlin.

Born in Whaleyville, she was the daughter of the late William Paul Baker and Nadine Truitt Baker. She is survived by her husband Everett Clifford Johnson, Sr., "Tip" of Berlin.

Johnson had been a legal secretary for 45 years with the law firm of Williams, Hammond, Moore and Shockley and Harrison in Berlin and Ocean City.

She also worked as a court auditor for Worcester County. She was the first woman elected to the Town Council of Berlin. She was past President of the Worcester County American Cancer Society, member of the Boggs-Disharoon American Legion Post #123 Ladies Auxiliary, Berlin Lioness Club, Berlin-Ocean City Soroptimist, Monday and Wednesday Bridge Club and Buckingham Presbyterian Church. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

Along with her husband, she is survived by a son, Everett Clifford Johnson, Jr. "Kip" and his wife Judith Brocies of Chevy Chase, Md.; a daughter, Janet Johnson Lathbury and her husband Bruce of Berlin; three grandchildren, Andrew Johnson and Adam Johnson of Chevy Chase and Madison Lathbury of Berlin; a brother, Richard Baker and his wife Joyce of West Ocean City; a sister, Bertha Johnson and her husband Ralph of West Ocean City; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her two brothers, William Kenny Baker and James Robert Baker.

Services were held. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Gerry Harrison, 337 Winter Quaters Dr., Pocomoke City, Md. 21851.

William Joseph Thomas

OCEAN PINES – William Joseph Thomas, age 79, died on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008 at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., he was the son of the late Stanley Thomas and Rose Marie "Anna" Matesich Thomas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Anne O’Brien Thomas.

Thomas was a US Navy veteran retiring after 24 years of service having achieved rank QMC. After retiring from the Navy, he went on to open Thomas Construction, which he owned and operated for 25 years.

He is survived by two sons, Timothy Charles Thomas of Ocean Pines and Patrick Joseph Thomas of Ocean City; one brother, Jack C. Thomas and his wife Dorie of Arizona; two sisters, Rose Marie Thomas of Pittsburgh, Pa. and Millie Mehilick of Nevada; three grand children, Jason, Nicole and Patrick, Jr.; four great grand children; one brother-in-law, Jerry O’Brien and his wife Janet; and several nieces and nephews.

Services were held. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11211 Beauchamp Rd., Ocean Pines, Md. 21811 or to the American Cancer Society, c/o Gerri Harrison, 337 Winter Quarters Dr., Pocomoke, Md. 21851.

Catherine D. Novak

OCEAN PINES – Catherine D. Novak, age 98, died on Monday, Nov. 24, 2008 at the home of her daughter in Ocean Pines.

Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Martin Loftus and Hannah McCafferty Loftus. She was preceded in death by her husband, John J. Novak, Jr.

Novak had been a homemaker and loved to knit and crochet.

She is survived by three daughters, Mary C. Adair of Ocean Pines, Nora Lawfer and her husband Ed of Warminster, Pa. and Catherine Achilles and her husband Gary of Philadelphia; one son, John J. Novak, III and his wife Margaret of Benton City, Wash.; 14 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; a sister, Grace Hoffman and her husband Frank of Newark, Del.; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Coastal Hospice, PO Box 1733, Salisbury, Md. 21811. Arrangements are being handled by the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.