Russell L. Probst

Russell L. Probst Sr. born January 19, 1929 went to be with his 2 sons in heaven on December 24, 2012. He was residing at the Masonic Village Health Care Center in Elizabethtown, PA at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife Nancy Ann Zimmerman Probst of Strasburg, PA and his son Clintin Samuel and his wife Karen of Ephrata, PA. He was predeceased by his 2 sons, Terry

Russell and Nancy Probst would have been married 62 years on January 25, 2013. They were married 5 days before Russell left for the Army, and then 6 weeks later, he was sent to Korea, where he served from 1951-1953. Nancy said

Russell was very hard worker all of his life. When he was young he worked on a farm for 25 cents a day. He worked for Christiana Pea Haulers, shoveling peas in the morning and sleeping under a wagon at night. He also worked at Stehli Silk Mill in Lancaster, he rode the bus from Strasburg to get to work daily. Russell then found his true calling when he started to work for E.A. Leaman Garage in New Providence, PA. He worked there before serving his country in Korea and then for 7

Russell always liked to tell that his wife worked 3 jobs while he was in Korea, when he returned; they bought a new 1953 Chevy and paid cash for it. They traveled for a few months after his return and they lived in New Providence. They then decided to move back to Strasburg; Nancy worked at the Hubley Toy Factory and Russell for E.A. Leaman Garage. They worked different shifts and did not see each other that often. They decided to start a family and a business. Russell decided to open his own service station and garage in 1959. He worked during the day and at night attended Stevens Trade School where he learned to be an

Their family started in 1957 with the birth of Russell Jr, and followed by Terry

Tragedy struck their family when Ted was diagnosed with leukemia, and he succumbed to the disease in 1975. Nancy moved with young Clintin to Bethesda, MD to be near Ted who was at NIH (National Institute of Health) being treated, while Russell Sr. and Russell Jr. stayed behind to run the family business.

Tragedy again struck their family when their oldest son, Russell Jr. died suddenly at age 51 in 2009.

When their youngest son Clintin was born, Russell was 42 and Nancy was 39, they were worried that they would not live to raise him. Russell said

The Probst family would like to thank the following people for caring for Russell while he was still at home. Jeff Levering, who would care for Russell in the morning and evening and took him to all his doctor appointments and Sue Kole from the VA who would come 3 days a week to get him up and read the sports page to him as he ate his breakfast.

We would also like to thank Dan Jones- who brought food to Nancy and Russell and would stay with Russell when Nancy would run errands. Sadie P. Fisher of Bunker Hill- who is such a good friend to Nancy and would help her with her shopping and housework, and to Richard and Elaine Buehler, who helped us when Russell Jr. died and took us in as part of their family. And finally we would like to thank the staff of Ben Franklin 2 at the Masonic Village Health Care Center in Elizabethtown, PA who served with such care and patience to Russell in his final days. His entire family will be eternally grateful.

Graveside Services will be held on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 1:00 pm in the Strasburg Mennonite Cemetery,1514 Village Road, Strasburg, PA. Dress is casual, if possible wear anything relating to the Phillies.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in his memory to the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown in c/o gift planning, Masonic Tree of Life Fund, 1 Masonic Dr., Elizabethtown, PA 17022.

Arrangements by the Wilde Funeral Home, Parkesburg, PA. Online condolences may be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com