Ethel A. Mesloh September 12, 1928 - April 15, 2023

ETHEL A. MESLOH, age 94,
of New Bremen, died on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 2:35 P.M. at Elmwood Assisted Living of New Bremen. She was born on September 12, 1928 in Berwick, Pennsylvania, the daughter of the late Harold and May (Allen) Anderson. On July 14, 1951, she married Karl R. Mesloh at the Heinz Chapel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and together they shared 71 wonderful years together. Karl survives at Elmwood. Also surviving are her children: Karl (Amy) Mesloh of New Bremen, Frederick (Mary) Mesloh of Hemphill, Texas, Stephanie (LeRoy) Holleman of Noblesville, Indiana, and Nick (Melissa) Mesloh of Spring, Texas. Also left to cherish her memory are her seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Along with her parents, Ethel was preceded in death by a sister Frances “Frannie” and a daughter in-law Sheryl Mesloh.

Music was always an important part of Ethel’s life. She started piano lessons at age 8. While in high school, she started taking piano lessons at Pennsylvania College for Women; later attending PCW and graduating in l951with a Bachelors of Arts in Tutorial Music. Ethel taught piano everywhere she lived and also played organ and piano at multiple churches. She retired with her husband Karl to New Bremen in 1984. In addition to playing at church services, she accompanied New Bremen High School students in their Solo and Ensemble contests, directed the Junior Choir at St. Paul and played in the bell choir until her shoulder surgery in 2000. Not long after, Ethel and Edith Wissman discovered they had a mutual love of piano duets. They began playing together and through the years have played for organization meetings, nursing homes and for services at St.Paul. Karl named them the Dynamic Duo.
Outside of music, Ethel liked to spend time playing bingo, enjoying her e-reader, honing her computer skills, watching “As the World Turns”, traveling the world, volunteering at Joint Township Hospital, and being a member of the New Bremen Women’s club, the Joint Township Hospital Auxiliary and the St. Paul Busy 12. Over the years, Karl’s job forced them to move numerous times to various locations, but it was having adequate space for Ethel’s Steinway piano (which was a gift from Karl on their wedding day) that determined which home that they lived in. Ethel was a proud homemaker and teacher of life skills to her children, and will be remembered for her warm smile and kind heart. Karl and Ethel’s children have always lived a distance from them, however, with the telephone and computer, the children have always been good to stay in touch.

Funeral Services to honor Ethel’s life will be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Paul United Church of Christ in New Bremen with Rev. Becky Erb Strang and Rev. John W. Tostrick officiating. Interment will follow in the German Protestant Cemetery of New Bremen. Calling Hours will be held on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. at the Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen, and again on Wednesday morning one hour prior to the services at the church. Memorial contributions in Memory of Ethel can be made to St. Paul Church for the upkeep of the carillon (which was a gift to the church from Ethel and Edith Wissman). Online condolences and memories can be shared on the funeral home website at www.gilberghartwigfh.com.