John J. Keiter Jr.

Pastor John J. Keiter Jr.

1942 - 2023

Pastor John J. Keiter, Jr., 80, of Glenside and Nesquehoning, entered into enteral rest Wednesday, August 30, 2023, in his retirement home, Glenside, with his wife Marjorie by his side. He was the husband of Marjorie (Hudson) Keiter. Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late John J. Sr. and Thelma (Leiber) Keiter.

He was a 1964 graduate of Wittenberg University. Pastor Keiter was ordained in 1967 after graduation from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary). He served several congregations in the Philadelphia area (SEPA Synod) including Zion, Olney; St. Michael’s, Kennett Square; St. Peter’s, Lafayette Hill; St. Timothy, Fox Chase; and Peace, Bensalem. His ministry included serving as a nursing home chaplain at Lutheran Home in Germantown, PA, and Foss Home in Seattle, Washington. 

Returning to Pennsylvania, he served two parishes in Northeast PA Synod: Good Shepherd, Ashland and Trinity, Lansford. He was also a contracted pastor for St. John’s, Lansford, (Slovak Zion Synod). As a retired pastor he was welcomed into the Slovak Zion Synod and he continued serving as a supply preacher/presider at Zion, Nesquehoning, and Ss. Peter and Paul, Hazleton, until his Parkinsonism prevented him from doing so. 

John loved classical music; at Wittenberg he sang in the Collegium Cantorum. Later, he sang in the Bach Handel Chorale in Jim Thorpe. He enjoyed acting in a seminary theater group which led to his playing Laertes in Hamlet at a community theater in Kennett Square. He kept his interest in theater by watching his sons’ performances and productions. He enjoyed watching movies which began with Saturday matinees during childhood in west Philadelphia and included taking a course in seminary that required him going to see many different films.

John was a devoted, loving husband and father, often creating wonderfully imaginative stories to tell his sons—one of which was about an owl who wanted to be a sky hawk. He and Marjorie celebrated their 60th anniversary last December with a family reunion when they delighted in the presence and talents of their sons and their families.

John is survived by his wife, Pastor Marjorie, his three sons T. J. (Jessi); Jonathan (April); Joshua (Pastor Lydia Posselt); and 5 grandchildren: Ian and Julianna Keiter, Maggie and Emily Keiter, and Geneva Posselt Keiter.

A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 11:00 A.M. in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 120 N. Easton Rd., Glenside, PA 19038 (corner of Mount Carmel Ave. and Easton Rd.), with Pastor Henrik Sonntag officiating. That service will be on St. Paul’s Facebook page, website (stpaulsglenside.org), and YouTube channel. A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, September 7, 2023, at 7:00 P.M. in the Joseph S. Blazosky F.H., 81 E. Catawissa St., Nesquehoning, PA, 18240. Calling hours will be held Thursday, September 7, 2023, from 5 – 7:00 P.M. in the Joseph S. Blazosky F.H. and Saturday, September 9, 2023, from 10-11:00 A.M. in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Glenside. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Pastor John’s memory may be made to St. John the Evangelist Slovak Lutheran Church, PO Box 18, Lansford, PA 18232. The Joseph S. Blazosky Funeral Home has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements. Online condolences at www.blazoskyfh.com.

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