Father John D. Schmalhofer, 73, of Chambersburg, formerly of Lancaster, passed away on Monday, April 26, 2021. He was born in Lancaster and was the son of the late Joseph M. and Mary A. (Baker) Schmalhofer.
The Mass of Transferal is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4, at St. Joseph Church, 440 Saint Joseph Street, Lancaster, PA 17603. There will be visitation from 5- 7 p.m.
Bishop Ronald Gainer will celebrate the Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at St. Joseph Church in Lancaster, with visitation from 9-11 a.m. Final Farewell and Commendation will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Father Schmalhofer graduated from St. Joseph School, Lancaster Catholic High School in 1966, St. Mary’s College in Kentucky in 1970, and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md.
He was ordained to the priesthood on April 27, 1974, at St. Patrick Cathedral in Harrisburg at the hands of Bishop Joseph Daley.
Father Schmalhofer’s assignments included St. Joan of Arc Parish in Hershey, Good Shepherd Parish in Camp Hill, St. George Mission in Mifflinburg, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Mount Carmel, Corpus Christi Parish in Chambersburg, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Lewistown, St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in Mifflintown, the Cathedral Parish of St. Patrick in Harrisburg, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Lebanon, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in New Holland, and St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Hanover.
Father Schmalhofer was raised in the German Catholic neighborhood of Lancaster City known by many as Cabbage Hill. He grew up attending St. Joseph Parish and was part of the Choir at Lancaster Catholic High School.
He was a diehard Philadelphia Phillies fan, baseball memorabilia collector, and wanted to visit every MLB ballpark in the country. He loved trips to Phillies games and going out to dinner to Italian restaurants in South Philadelphia. He enjoyed Civil War history and often would visit the Gettysburg monuments. He was very proud to actively participate in all of the Schmalhofer Family affairs, such as family weddings, funerals, baptisms, and all of the sacraments. He never missed the annual family Thanksgiving dinners.
Father Schmalhofer is survived by a sister, Ann M. Wendel, of Lancaster, a brother Paul T. Schmalhofer, of Henderson, NV, an aunt, Sister Bernadine Schmalhofer M.S.B.T., nieces, Bonnie A. Yingst, wife of Dale, of Harrisburg, Julie M. Asquith, wife of Greg, of Anaheim, CA, Betsy L. Wendel, companion of Tom Kelsch, of Glen Mills, nephews Bryan Schmalhofer, husband of Christy, of Lancaster, David A. Wendel, husband of Carmen, of Lancaster, Gregory Schmalhofer of Lancaster, niece Sheri Myers of Akron, OH and a host of first and second cousins, great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph F. Schmalhofer.
Flowers are invited and Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Joseph Parish in Lancaster or to Lancaster Catholic High School.
