Joseph “Joe” Richard Zeller, 100, a dedicated public servant, always willing to share his century spanning life experiences with young or old, has departed from his Earthly mission.

Joe, born Sept. 19, 1918, in the tiny town of Campus, Ill., was the son of Carl and Frances (Kunkel) Zeller.

He died Dec. 12, 2018, in his favorite room of the house he proudly built in Lowhill Township.

Joe believed being positive would achieve personal goals and every generation would meet their challenges to keep this nation strong.

The Early Years

Born during the last months of World War I, he lived through the Spanish flu which claimed his brother Leo.

His youth was shaped by several factors including: at age 11 his mother died; his father was a tavern owner; his dedication to Catholic Church teachings; the family home and business was lost during the Depression and finally, along with his younger brother, Frank, he was given to the custody of an aunt in southern Indiana at age 15.

His three years as a farmhand for his aunt included operating her sizable illegal moonshine production which fueled the Chicago gangsters of the era, some of which he came into contact with at his dad’s tavern and included Al Capone.

After federal agents raided his aunt’s operation, Joe and Frank fled to Chicago hidden in a load of furniture.

With this country still in the Depression, Joe took care of himself and his brother by working in restaurants and selling vacuum cleaners until he became an apprentice electrician in 1938 in Wausau, Wis., and a journeyman electrician in 1941.

In Chicago, Joe also boxed in the Golden Gloves competition.

His Military Years

Being a journeyman electrician set the stage for over three years of World War II service, joining the Navy in the Great Lakes.

Joe earned the rank of aviation electric mate chief, serving two years aboard the USS Ranger CV-4, the first carrier built from the keel up, with combat in Operation Torch in Africa, as well as Operation Leader along the coast of Norway.

Joe was recalled during the Korean War.

He never saw the inside of a high school but through the GI Bill and night school for five years, Joe earned a degree in electrical engineering through Penn State.

His Public Service

After his Korean War service, Joe’s life calling became assisting others as the organizer of the Emmaus Taxpayers League, the foundation for his service to the Borough of Emmaus as councilman and mayor.

His concern for affordable senior citizen housing resulted in founding and presidency of the East Penn Non-Profit Housing Corporation.

In 1970, Joe was elected to the first of five terms as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 134th Legislative District where he dedicated himself to assisting volunteer fire and ambulance services.

He was also tapped to serve 12 years as a council member of the Governor’s Justice Commission and a decade on the advisory board of Lehigh County Community College.

Joe always cherished the “scissor” tie tack presented him by late Morning Call Publisher Don Miller, symbolic of cutting the red tape in the state legislature.

His Work Career

In addition to his public service, Joe’s career in electrical engineering was highlighted by more than 10 years with E.C. Ernst Electrical Contractors, Washington, D.C., supervising projects such as Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, the original Schaefer Brewery, Breinigsville and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Project.

Joe was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 375 since 1941.

He also served as a columnist for papers in the Lehigh Valley for more than two decades through his “Views to You” and “Zeller’s Weekly Report.”

His Personal Causes

Among numerous memberships, associations and community causes Joe was affiliated with, he touted more than 50 years as a Boy Scout Merit Badge Counselor.

He fought to keep the Soldiers and Sailors Monument rooted at Center Square, Allentown, during the 1960s push to relocate it to West Park, and successfully challenged his own priest during an illegal bingo operation.

He helped defeat the state Civil Liberties Union’s drive to remove the taxpayer purchased nativity scene from Emmaus municipal property; and fought to block the building of the Trexler Dam in Western Lehigh County in the 1970s.

Joe served as a public speaker for more than 45 years on government and community service.

Assisting and honoring fellow veterans was a priority for Joe and this included the formation of “Brig. Gen. Anna Mae V. McCabe Hays VFW Post 12099” in Allentown.

In recent years, his untiring energy was directed to Seipstown Grange 1657; the Lehigh Valley Beekeepers Association; Emmaus Historical Society with the Shelter House and 1803 House; his 20-year tenure as treasurer of the USS Ranger CV-4 Reunion Group; the Zeller Family Reunion Group of Lebanon County, where his beloved Fort Zeller (1745) is located, and serving as chairman of the 300th anniversary weekend of Zellers in America in 2010.

He also “hands on” chaired the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in 1999, and the Allentown Flag Day Association in 2007, as well as the 50th anniversary, in the Lehigh Valley, of the Korean War during which more than 1,200 appreciation medallions were presented on behalf of the nation of South Korea.

His patriotism never wavered with more than 70 years membership in both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars and as founder and president of the Emmaus Flag Day Association and past president of the Allentown Flag Day Association.

For decades, Joe daily sported his signature patriotic flag tie noticed by all.

His survivors include Ann Wertman, his partner of more than 40 years who was always actively by his side in all causes; three daughters Brenda, Laura and Margaret; and five grandchildren from his earlier marriage to Marjorie Lawless Zeller.

He was predeceased by siblings Carl, John, Leo, Frank and Irene.

His services will be private with burial at Fort Indiantown Gap National Ceremony where he wants to join his comrades who proudly served their nation.

Condolences may be offered to the family at kellerfuneralhomes.com.

Contributions may be made to VFW Post 12099 of Allentown to continue its service to veterans or to the historic Liberty Bell Museum, Allentown, to keep local history alive, both c/o Keller Funeral Home Inc., P.O. Box 52, Fogelsville, 18051.

Arrangements were made by Keller Funeral Homes Inc., Fogelsville.