For information on submitting an obituary, please contact Reading Eagle by phone at 610-371-5018, or email at obituaries@readingeagle.com or fax at 610-371-5193.
Most obituaries published in the Reading Eagle are submitted through funeral homes and cremation services, but we will accept submissions from families. Obituaries can be emailed to obituaries@readingeagle.com.
In addition to the text of the obituary, any photographs that you wish to include can be attached to this email. Please put the text of the obituary in a Word document, a Google document or in the body of the email. The Reading Eagle also requires a way to verify the death, so please include either the phone number of the funeral home or cremation service that is in charge of the deceased’s care or a photo of his/her death certificate. We also request that your full name, phone number and address are all included in this email.
All payments by families must be made with a credit card. We will send a proof of the completed obituary before we require payment. The obituary cannot run, however, until we receive payment in full.
Obituaries can be submitted for any future date, but they must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. the day prior to its running for it to be published.
Please call the obituary desk, at 610-371-5018, for information on pricing.
Seven individuals making up the Wilson Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2025 will be honored at halftime of the Bulldogs’ home football game against Penn Manor on Friday, Oct. 10.
The inductees are:
Jimmy Brooks – Class of 2013
Jimmy Brooks, a 2013 grad, was a standout in football and track & field. In football, he earned All-State honors and was selected as the Pennsylvania Big School Defensive Player of the Year in 2012.
In track & field, Jimmy was a standout sprinter who won a PIAA state championship in the 400M and set the school record with a time of 47.81 seconds in 2013.
He continued his track & field career by accepting a full athletic scholarship to Western Texas College, where he ran on the National Championship 4×400. After two years at Western Texas, he transferred to Cincinnati,where he won the conference 400M in 46.04 and, the following year, the indoor 400M.
Anton Fernsler – Coach
Anton Fernsler successfully coached football, wrestling, and track and field in his 30 years at Wilson. Coach Fernsler always maintained that his real success was in the development of his players as athletes and people.
Throughout his career he taught, mentored, and strengthened many, instilling them with a “never quit” mentality in all areas of life.
Coach Fernsler always pushed his athletes past their limits so that they might reach their full potential. He inspired and believed in his players, even when they did not believe in themselves. He cared not only for the performance but also the hearts of all he taught and coached.
Offering optional summer and winter workouts, along with an after-school weight lifting program, Coach Fernsler went beyond the responsibilities of a coach and physical education teacher. He taught invaluable lessons of hard work, perseverance, and character, all lessons that extended far beyond athletics. His influence continues to be remembered in the many lives he touched, and his legacy will stand as a symbol of leadership, passion, and selflessness.
Michael Kemp – Class of 1972
Michael began his journey with the Lincoln Park Mites and Midgets program and continued through high school, college, and numerous NFL opportunities over five seasons.
Kemp earned All-Berks and All-Tri County Defensive Back and Running Back honors in football along with AllCounty recognition in track & field for sprints, relays, and pole vault.
Following High School, Michael attended Mansfield State College, where he participated in both football and track & field. He was a four-year starter on Mansfield’s football team where he set records in rushing, carries, touchdowns, punt return, kickoff return, and all-purpose-yards for game, season, and career. His 5,280 yards of All-Purpose yardage in 30 games is the standard that has yet to be eclipsed. He earned all PSCAC honors at running back and led the conference in rushing, carries, and touchdowns.
While at Mansfield, Kemp was honored by being named the first outstanding male athlete in the award’s inaugural year. Beginning in 1977, numerous NFL teams over 5 seasons invited Kemp to unrestricted free agent tryouts. Miami, Washington, and Cleveland invited him during his rookie season. Then, in 1978, Washington invited him back for season 2. In 1979, Atlanta invited him for season 3, then in 1980 he caught Dallas’s attention for season 4. He then was invited to the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian football league in 1981 for season 5.
Kemp was inducted into Mansfield University’s Alumni Athletic Hall Of Fame for both football and track & field.
Following his playing career, Michael coached football, baseball, and track & field at Mansfield. He also coached football at Albright College.
Madison (Klee) Close – Class of 2015
Madison graduated from Wilson High School in 2015 where she excelled as a three-sport athlete, earning 11 varsity letters in lacrosse, field hockey, and basketball.
Madison became Berks County’s all-time leading lacrosse scorer with 308 goals, was a four-time All-County First Team honoree, two-time MVP attacker, and an All-American honorable mention.
In field hockey, Madison tallied 41 career goals and earned two All-Division honors, while in basketball she contributed to multiple county and district championships.
Continuing her career at the University of Michigan on a lacrosse scholarship, Madison was a four-time letter winner, recipient of the Iron Wolverine Award, three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, and two-time Academic Achievement Award winner.
McKenzie Klee – Class of 2015
McKenzie Klee made her mark at Wilson High School as a standout two-sport athlete, excelling in water polo and swimming while earning eight varsity letters.
In water polo, McKenzie earned State Rookie of the Year and All-State Freshman Team honors in 2011. She went on to become a three-time All-State and four-time All-County selection, capped by recognition as Pennsylvania’s Miss Water Polo Player of the Year in 2014. That same season she was named a First Team All-American after earlier earning Third Team and Fourth Team selections, and was twice honored as Reading Eagle All-Berks Player of the Year. A three-time Beast of the East All-Tournament Team member, she was the foundation of Wilson’swater polo program as a four-year starter.
In swimming, McKenzie was a two-time All-American in the 200 medley relay, a core member of Wilson’s Central Penn League championship teams, and part of the 2013–14 medley relay that finished fifth at the state finals. That same season she helped Wilson earn a runner-up team finish at Districts. She went on to earn All-League and All-Berks honors across multiple events, including the 200 IM and 100 Breaststroke, while setting a CPL record in the 200 medley relay in 2014.
Equally strong in the classroom, McKenzie was a four-time All-Berks Academic honoree and National Honor Society member. Her many achievements were recognized with the Wilson High School Athletic Hall of Fame Award and the Van Reed Athletic Association Award in 2015.
After Wilson, she continued her academic journey at the University of Michigan, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2019.
Shannon O’Brien – Class of 2015
Shannon O’Brien was a multi-sport athlete at Wilson High School, earning nine varsity letters across soccer, basketball, and track and field. In her senior year, she was honored as the 2015 Wilson Pepsi Female Athlete of the Year.
O’Brien was a versatile soccer player and four-year letter winner who earned All-State and All- County honors.
Throughout her career, she scored 43 career goals – many while playing as a defender. As team captain, she helped lead the team in winning the 2014 Berks County Championship.
She also earned four varsity letters in basketball, received All-Division recognition, multiple tournament MVPs, and played a key role in her team’s success, including three Berks County and two District 3 AAAA championships.In track and field, she competed in the 200-meter sprint and javelin, contributing to the 2015 Berks County championship team.
A National Honor Society member and scholarship recipient, Shannon continued her academic and athletic pursuits at the University of Pittsburgh. She earned a degree in Supply Chain Management and played for the Pitt Women’s Rugby team as a wing, outside center, and fullback.
Erin (Timochenko) Thomas – Class of 2012
Erin (Timochenko) Thomas was a standout member of the Wilson High School Swim Team from 2009–2012, serving as co-captain her senior year. During her career, Wilson captured two PIAA state championships (2010, 2012), finished as state runner-up in 2011, won multiple District 3 titles, claimed four straight league championships, and went undefeated in dual meet competition from 2010–2012.
She contributed to several state and district relay championships and earned top individual finishes, including 4th in the 100 btterfly and 5th in the 100 backstroke at the 2012 PIAA State Championships. A 3-time All-State and 2-time All-American, she was named Wilson Female Athlete of the Year in 2012, held two school records, and maintained the “Best inBerks” 100 Butterfly record for nearly a decade.
In addition to her swimming career, Erin was a three-year varsity member of the Wilson Water Polo Team, serving as captain in 2012. She helped lead the Bulldogs to multiple undefeated seasons, three state runner-up finishes, and two Beast of the East Championships. Individually, she earned 1st Team All-State, All-Conference, and All-Berks honors.
She went on to swim at Georgetown University, where she was named Team MVP as a freshman, served as co-captain in 2015, and became a 3-time Big East Championship runner-up. She broke six school relay records, earned All-Conference honors, and was a 4-time Big East All-Academic Team selection, also securing spots on Georgetown’s all-time Top 10 list in three individual events.