John A. Kunkleman, 94, of Leesport and Fleetwood, died Tuesday, December 26, 2017 in Reading Hospital. His wife of more than 67 years, Reta J. (Naftzinger) Kunkleman, died on May 1, 2011. He was born in West Leesport on June 21, 1923, a son of the late Alfred W. and Kathryn (Keller) Kunkleman. He was valedictorian of the Class of 1941 at the former Ontelaunee Vocational School. He joined Leesport Lodge No. 141, Independent Order of Odd Fellows in April 1942, and over the years was active at the local and state levels in all branches of the Odd Fellows. He was a past grand, former secretary and representative to Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in Leesport Lodge. He was a past district deputy grand master and a past grand marshal of the Grand Lodge. Kunkleman was a past chief patriarch and former scribe of Earl R. Leiby Encampment No. 106, Patriarchal Odd Fellows. He was a past district deputy grand patriarch and a past grand marshal of the Grand Encampment of Pennsylvania. He was a member of Lady Colfax Rebekah Lodge No. 182, Leesport, and over the years served a number of appointed offices in the lodge. He was a past commandant and former clerk of Canton Leesport No. 2, Patriarchs Militant, the uniformed ceremonial branch of the Odd Fellows. From November 1969 to December 31, 1971, he was commander of the Department of Pennsylvania with the rank of major general. He was the senior past department commander in Pennsylvania. In October 1965, the Department of Pennsylvania awarded Kunkleman the Decoration of Chivalry, the highest award a department can confer for service to the lodge and the community. In September 1971, at a ceremony in Vancouver, British Columbia, Kunkleman was awarded the Grand Decoration of Chivalry by the Sovereign Grand Lodge, international body of the order. In June 2003, he was awarded the Department Commanders Award from the Department of Pennsylvania. Before entering the Army in February 1943, Kunkleman played in the Centerport Band and later the Metropolitan Band of Laureldale. Most of his three years in the military were spent in the Base General Depot Band, stationed in San Bernardino, California, and the 768th Army Air Force Band at Geiger Field, Spokane Washington. For a number of years he served as a bugler at funerals and memorial services with both the Legion and for military units who did not have buglers assigned to them. He served as a civilian member of the Reading Armory Board and was a leader in the drive to have a new armory built to replace the old one at Rose and Walnut Streets. He was master of ceremonies for the dedication of the present armory on River Road. He served 20 years on the Berks County Armed Forces Advisory Committee and helped to plan Armed Forces Day events in Reading for those years. He was a former West Leesport Borough secretary. Kunkleman was a life member of the Reading Automobile Club, and Pennsylvania Voters Hall of Fame. His wife Reta, former Leesport Postmaster, retired in 1984 after more than 35 years of service in the postal service. Kunkleman retired in 1985 after 44 years on the staff of the Reading Eagle, starting as a copy boy in 1941, and moving all the way up to Associate Editor by his retirement. After retirement, John and Reta began 21 years of travel. In addition to most of the United States and Canada, they also traveled to Iceland, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand. In 1988, the Kunklemans made a 13-night cruise from Pittsburgh to New Orleans on the Paddlewheel Steamboat Delta Queen. By 2006, they completed 25 cruises on the Delta Queen which resulted in their spending more than half a year on the legendary vessel. They also completed cruises on the St. Lawrence, Columbia, and Snake Rivers in the Northwest; The Sacramento River in California, and the Red River in Canada. Kunkleman was also active in Leesport Post No. 906, American Legion. He was editor of the post newsletter, active in conducting the post's Legion Baseball team and served one year as president of the Berks County Legion Baseball League. John is survived by a daughter: Joanne C. (Kunkleman) wife of Kerry A. Drake, Montoursville; two grandchildren: William K. Drake husband of Tiffany, Coram, NY, and Steven S. Drake husband of Jennifer, Coaldale. He is also survived by two great-grandsons: Logan William Drake, and Alexander John Drake. Services will be held Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at 11:00 am from Leibensperger Funeral Homes, Inc., 223 Peach Street Leesport, PA 19533. Burial will follow in Leesport Cemetery. A viewing will be held on Tuesday, January 2, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and Wednesday morning from 10:00 to 11:00 am in the funeral home. Leesport Lodge No. 141, I.O.O.F. services will be held Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to: Odd Fellows Home at Middletown, 999 West Harrisburg Pike Middletown, PA 17057. For online condolences, please visit www.leibenspergerfuneralhomes.com