A joint public memorial service to honor the lives of two firefighters who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty is scheduled for Saturday.

Zachary Paris, 36, and Martin L. Gruber, 59, were volunteer members of the Community Fire Company of New Tripoli and died while responding to a Wednesday evening house fire in the village of Clamtown, West Penn Township.

A fundraiser for both men is also underway.

The services will be held from the Northwestern Lehigh Middle School Auditorium, 6636 Northwest Road, New Tripoli.

Visitation times for the public and out-of-county emergency services will be held from 8 to 11 a.m.; Lehigh County emergency services from noon to 2 p.m.; and a memorial service from 2 to 4 p.m.

The Rev. Walter F. Frisch will officiate. The services will be livestreamed and details will be announced in the near future.

Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of the men’s families.

The New Tripoli Bank has established an online GoFundMe fundraiser on behalf of the Community Fire Company.

“Both men were devoted to their families and the monies raised will be equally distributed to help with any future expenses for their families. We are asking you during this holiday season to open your hearts to those families who are grieving their loved ones who they so tragically lost,” according to the bank’s post on GoFundMe.

The goal is to raise $100,000. As of Monday morning, $35,000 had been donated.

According to obituaries posted by the Robert S. Nester Funeral Home of New Tripoli, which has charge of the arrangements:

Paris enjoyed hunting and fishing and loved to share that experience with his two girls, taking them out on the boat and teaching them how to fish.

He spent some time as a farmer as well, working the crop fields at Bleiler Farms. He also worked for Timac Agro Inc. in Reading, as a sprayer applicator for a few years.

He enjoyed working on and restoring classic vehicles, specifically his Dodge Demon. He loved his Harley-Davidson Road King.

One of his favorite adventures was riding his Harley to Florida, alongside his dad, to visit his grandfather and successfully get him on a motorcycle.

According to this obituary, at the age of 15, Paris already felt a calling to serve others. He volunteered as a junior firefighter for Blandon Fire Company until 2010, when he then moved to New Tripoli, and immediately joined the Community Fire Company of New Tripoli as a volunteer firefighter.

Over the years, he worked his way up to become assistant chief. He also trained hard as a member of the recruit class 32 for Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue in Maryland from March – September of 2022, where he graduated to become a career firefighter and EMT. The day after he graduated, he began working for the Green Valley Fire station, part of Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue. Paris traveled between Green Valley and New Tripoli, serving at both fire stations, since September 2022.

The family requests memorial contributions in his name to the Community Fire Company of New Tripoli, sent directly to 7242 Decatur St., New Tripoli.

Gruber, of New Tripoli, was a 1981 graduate of Northwestern Lehigh High School in New Tripoli, and later also graduated from Lincoln Technical Institute in Allentown. Gruber also had numerous other professional certifications in the public safety and EMS arena. Marvin worked as the Assistant Chief of Public Safety for Northampton Community College in Bethlehem. He was a long-time and beloved member of the NCC community, having worked at the college for 22 years, the last 15 in the department of public safety.

Gruber grew up on a dairy farm owned and operated by his parents in New Tripoli, a time that likely shaped his unmatched work ethic.

According to his obituary, he became a fixture in the New Tripoli community, starting with his involvement in the fire service in the late 1980s. He also served as assistant chief of the former Northwestern Ambulance Corps. Most recently, Gruber served as a deacon for Ebenezer U.C.C. Church in New Tripoli and was a volunteer firefighter for the Community Fire Company of New Tripoli since 2020.

“Most of all, Marvin loved his family. He was a loving pop-pop to three grandchildren, an inspiring father to his son and daughter and a dedicated husband to his high school sweetheart, Karen. His favorite day of the week was Thursday, when his family gathered to enjoy a meal and be together each week,” the obituary said.

They loved to vacation at Disney World and took their grandchildren to Disney for their first visit last year.

Gruber could usually be found tinkering in his shed or doing yard work around the house.

“He had an infectious laugh and a genuine personality that garnered adoration from many,” the obituary said.

The family requests memorial contributions in his name to the Ebenezer U.C.C. Church, 7293 Decatur St., New Tripoli, PA. and/or Community Fire Company of New Tripoli, 7242 Decatur St., New Tripoli, PA.