Paul R. Kraatz

Paul R. "Dick" Kraatz, 77, of Sinking Spring passed away December 6, 2011 at 6:29 a.m. in The Reading Hospital and Medical Center. He had been a patient of The Reading Hospital and the Post Acute Care Center for the past 6 months fighting his illness.

He was the husband of Margaret A. (Thomas) Kraatz.

Born in Reading, he was a son of the late Paul S. Kraatz and Mary S. (Cummings) Kraatz-Harter.

He was a 1952 graduate of Reading High School.

Kraatz was employed for 42 years by U.G.I. Utlities last working as a Utilization Engineer in the Reading area. He retired in October 1996.

Dick was owner of Kraatz's Suburban Styles from 1981 to the present, which is located in Lincoln Park. He also serviced most of the local nursing home facilities beauty shops for many years.

As a youth he was a member of the Kenhorst Drum and Bugle Corp. He was a percussionist with the Wyomissing Band, Lauterbach German Band and the Velvet Tones Dance Bands.

He served on the Board of Directors and as program chairman of the Schuylkill Valley Restaurant Association from 1960 to his retirement. He received the Keystone Award in 1996 from both the Schuylkill Valley Restaurant Association and the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association.

He was the first Daffodil Day Chairman for the American Cancer Society, Berks Chapter.

Dick was a member of the Reading Berks Chamber of Commerce.

He served as a Loaned Executive from U.G.I. to the United Way of Berks County.

Kraatz served on the Food Craft Advisory Committee of both Reading Muhlenberg and Berks County Vo-Tech Schools since their inception up until his retirement.

He was designated respondee for the Brace For An Ace Award for the State of Pennsylvania representing Berks County Easter Seal Society at a state meeting held in Philadelphia. Kraatz was a Buck A Cup Chairman for the Schuylkill Valley Restaurant Association and Berks County Easter Seal Society for 15 years.

Kraatz served in the Army Reserve with the 342nd Military Police Escort Guard Company and as musical director of the Army Reserve Dance Band located at 12th and Bern Street, Reading. He served with the 151st Engineer Group (Combat) at Fort Benning, GA, as Personnel Sergeant.

In October, Dick was happily married to Margaret A. "Peggy" (Thomas) Kraatz for 56 years. Surviving are three daughters: Sharon E. Kraatz, Lincoln Park; Kathleen L. (Kraatz) Sweitzer, wife of Jack R. Sweitzer, Sinking Spring and Diane M. (Kraatz) Jacobson of Shrewsbury. Also four grandchildren: Tyler, Kaleigh, Kelsei and Karlei survive him.

Services will be Monday at 1 p.m. in Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 Penn Ave., West Reading. A viewing will be 12 to 1 p.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be in Gethsemane Cemetery. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.