Himmel’s Cemetery Association

     The Himmel’s Church was founded in 1773 by the first German Lutheran and Reformed settlers along the Schwaben Creek in Lower Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. They joined together to procure a grant of land from the province of Pennsylvania. On this land was erected a log school house and a log Church. A cemetery was established on the land adjacent to the Church. Each family maintained their own grave sites.

     On January 5, 1937 the Himmel’s Cemetery Association was organized with three Lutheran Trustees present, Harvey A. Kieffer, Robert E. Kauffman, and Charles M. Reed. Reformed Trustees were Harry E. Rebuck, John Rothermel, and Leon P. Daniel and Treasurer Charles M. Reed. Charles H. Rebuck was appointed as Caretaker of the Cemetery.

     Every year the retiring Church Council and Consistory members were elected to serve three years on the Cemetery Board of Trustees. On November 12, 1995 the Articles of Agreement for the Joint Congregation of Himmel’s Lutheran and United Church of Christ was approved by the two Congregations. A provision of this Agreement discontinues the election of retiring Council members to serve on the Cemetery Board. The Board of Trustees must elect their own Trustees from the Congregation at large. One from the Lutheran Congregation and one from the United Church of Christ to serve for a three year term. The Agreement provides Active Church members with a burial right on the cemetery.

The Officers for the year of 2001 are as follows:

                        President – Gregory Erdman

                        Vice-President – Don Kauffman

                        Treasurer – Arlen Snyder

                        Secretary – Donald Zerbe

                                    Trustees

       Lutheran                                              UCC

       Don Kauffman                                     Percy Troutman

                 Merlin Hoch                                         Raymond Bordner