David N. Kistler, loving husband of Delores E. Kistler, passed away on Sunday, January 25, 2026, just hours after his wife Delores, in Lutheran Home at Topton, at the age of 93.

They last resided together at the Lutheran Home at Topton (EverTrue) and shared not only 70 years of marriage but nearly a lifetime of friendship, growing up together in Coopersburg, PA from the time of attending grade school. They lived in several places in Pennsylvania including Claysburg (Blair County), Shamokin Dam (Synder County), Bainbridge (Lancaster County), then finally Berks County, in Shoemakersville and then Bethel, where they built their own house in the Blue Mountains near the Appalachian Trail.

He was the fourth and final child of the Rev. Daniel & Jessie Kistler, born in Everett, WA, then moving to and growing up in Coopersburg, PA.

He graduated from Coopersburg High School in 1950 and Muhlenberg College in 1955. He entered the Philadelphia Lutheran Seminary in 1955, graduated in 1957, and was then ordained as a Lutheran Minister on July 7, 1957, in Trinity Lutheran Church, Lebanon, PA, where his father, the Rev. Daniel D. Kistler, was pastor.

After serving in parishes in Claysburg and Shamokin Dam, he began a program for clinical pastoral education, worked for the state in a newly formed program for migrant workers in Harrisburg, PA, while also serving the parish in Bainbridge. He was then hired as Chaplain for Hamburg Center, Hamburg, PA, in 1970. He retired in 1996 after serving there for more than 25 years.

Beyond retirement he worked tirelessly for the developmentally delayed community here in Berks County, through ARC and a special Festival of Faith he and others conducted monthly, while also serving as supply pastor for several congregations, even into his 90's.

He was an avid hiker and traversed nearly the entire length of the Appalachian Trail, after his retirement. He was also a cross-country skier and world traveler. He loved music and was an avid ukulele player. He loved planning their travels and many family gatherings and reunions, then extensively organizing his many photos.

David is survived by his children, Mary Jane Doney (James), Leesport, PA, Catherine Ann Vana, Colorado Springs, CO, Michael Kistler (Karen), Austin, TX, and Elizabeth Silady (James), Hillsborough, NJ.

He was "Grandpa" to eight grandchildren: Cassandra (Velilla) Heifetz (Adam), Heather Velilla (deceased), Ashlen Vana, Tucker Vana, Rebecca (Kistler) Woodell (Samuel), John Kistler, Matthew Silady, and Nicholas Silady. He was also "Pappy" to great grandchildren Moriah Heifetz, Caleb Heifetz, and Maxine Woodell, all of whom he was very proud.

Memorial Services will be held Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 11:00 am from St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 99 Church Street Hamburg, PA 19526. A visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 am in the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, 99 Church St, Hamburg, PA 19526. Online at stjohnshamburg.org.

Leibensperger Funeral Homes, Inc.,, Hamburg, is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, please visit www.leibenspergerfuneralhomes.com