John C. Breidegam

John C. Breidegam, 86, of Palmyra, passed away on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at the Hershey Medical Center.  Born Tuesday, September 23, 1930 in Meckville, PA, he was the son of the late John H. Breidegam and Mary (Dove) Seiter.  He was married to Donna (nee Tobias) (Haag) Breidegam in 1991.

 A Veteran, John proudly served with the U.S. Army.  During the 1970’s he was elected and served as a Union Representative in the Shipping Department at the 19 East Hershey Chocolate Plant.  In 1975, he was elected as Branch President of the Hershey Plant representing over 3,000 Union Members and served until 1981.  During his tenure, he helped negotiate the Golden 90 Retirement Plan and a dental program.  He was one of the original job evaluation committee members.  He also served as an Executive Board Member of Chocolate Workers Local #464 of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco workers and Grain Millers International Union (AFL-CIO) of America.

In addition to his devoted wife of over 25 years, he will be lovingly missed by his children: Beverly Breidegam, of Harrisburg; Rodney Breidegam (Donna), of Hershey; Crystal Miley (Gary), of Annville; Tracy Dancause (Dave), of Annville and a step-daughter, Denise Kleinfelter (Kim), of Lebanon.  Also surviving are six grandchildren: Shauna Dowdrick (Michael), whom John and his former wife, Velma, helped raise; Malik Tumer (Joy); Jaime Kraft (Rob Heisey); Heather Gross (Charles); Morgan Dancause and Tyler Weaber-Haag, whom John and Donna helped raise.  There are also 10 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; a brother, Thomas Breidegan (Kay), of Jonestown; a sister, Ruby Hupp, of Lebanon and two half-sisters, Linda Breidegam, of Rehrersburg and Gloria Boyer (Lloyd) of Myerstown.  He was preceded in death by a step-son, Douglas Tobias Haag; a granddaughter, Kathy Whitman and a brother, Henry Breidegan.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 AM on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at the Rothermel-Finkenbinder Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 25 West Pine Street, Palmyra, PA  17078, 717-838-9211 with the Reverend Joel Risser, officiating.  A viewing will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, from 6:00-8:00 PM and also on Wednesday from 10 AM until the time of the service.  Burial will follow in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Jonestown. 

Flowers will be received at the funeral home.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.RothermelFuneralHome.com

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