Robert K. Sterner

Robert K. Sterner, 68, died February 28th in his Cumru Township residence.

He was the husband of Sandra Sontag Sterner of Cumru Township.

Born in West Newton, PA, he was the son of the late Ernest and Margaret (Havercheck) Sterner.

He was a 1954 graduate of Muncy High School. He also attended Bloomsburg University. He graduated from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, Hershey, in 1962.

Sterner was a Pennsylvania State Trooper for 20 years, retiring in 1982.He was awarded a commendation for his skill and efforts in solving several burglaries and gambling raids in the area. In 1966, Sterner was assigned to the Reading barracks where he was designated community relations officer and alternate fire investigator. He was appointed to the post of arson investigator in 1977 and participated in probes of several Berks County Fires. He was a past instructor of fire investigations for the Pennsylvania Crime Commission's fire marshal division, the state Department of Education, the state police and Berks County police and fire officials.

After his retirement, he was the owner of Sterner Fire and Explosion Investigations.

He was the Past Director of Blue Marsh Ski School. Sterner was a member of the Scottish Rite Masons, and the Rajah Shriners. He was a past manager of Safety and Security in Berks County. He was a member in International and Pennsylvania Association of Arson Investigations, National Fire Protection Agency, Berks County Fire Chief Association and Berks Claims Association.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Sterner was a member of the Muncy Methodist Church, Muncy PA.

He is survived by one daughter, Jaime (Sterner) Russo of Wyomissing, and one Step- Son Blake S. Apsokardu of Womelsdorf.

Other survivors include three grandchildren.

Services will be held on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc. West Reading. Friends may call from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Office of the Recording Secretary 124 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, MA 02138. Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home Inc., is in charge of the arrangements.