Henry J. "Herk" Schwalm

Henry J "Herk" Schwalm, age 87, of Coal Township, formerly of Valley View, passed away Thursday, March 3, 2016 at his residence, with his daughter by his side. He was born on Monday, March 12, 1928, in Valley View, a son of the late Robert Schwalm and the late Minnie Harner Schwalm. He was a 1945 graduate of the former Hegins Twp High School; where he earned three letters in baseball. He was a Corporal with the US Army, 169th Infantry Regiment, 43rd Division, from 1950 to 1952 during the Korean War. He was married on July 7, 1956 to the former Dorothy Harner, who passed away in 1992. He was a Postmaster at the Valley View and Hegins Post Offices for thirty years until his retirement in 1990. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Valley View. He was also a member of American Legion Post 575 and a life member of VFW Post 8237 both of Valley View, the West End Fire Company, East Cameron Twp Fire Company, Independence Fire Company and Maine Fire Company both of Shamokin, Brady Fire Company, Coal Twp., St. Francis Home Association, Shamokin, and the Valley View Gun Club. Herk loved baseball. He was manager of many Valley View Baseball Teams that had great success under his guidance. He was a die-hard Phillies fan. He loved doing yard work and gardening on the best lawn in the neighborhood. He enjoyed canning, and cooking with some of the best friends he ever had. He took great pride in knowing he instilled the value of hard work and tough love to his grandsons Dennis Carl Paczkowski and Matt Rhodes. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife; by a grandson Dennis Carl Paczkowski; a brother Jacob Schwalm, and two sisters Verna Keener and Isabell Posipanko. He is survived by a daughter, Dawn M Paczkowski and her husband Dennis of Coal Township; a sister, Reeta Otto of New Cumberland; a grandson, Matthew Rhodes of Trevorton; and by several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at the Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Valley View, on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, at 11:00 am, with Randy Wehry officiating. A viewing was held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial with Military Honors was made in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Valley View. Condolences can be left for the family at www.buffingtonreed.com.

Henry J. "Herk" Schwalm

March 12, 1928 - March 3, 2016