George D. Feifel III, 82, of Coopersburg, passed away Monday,
December 12, 2016 at St. Luke's Hospital. He passed peacefully and was surrounded by his family. He was the son of the late George J. Feifel Jr. and the late Mildred Frankenfield Feifel on April 27, 1934.
He worked hard all his life especially when life worked hard on him. His father died when he was two years old and his mother suffered from polio. He and his brother John made the most of their lives. George joined the Air Force in 1951 and served four years with his final two years as an airplane mechanic at Laon Air base in France. He serviced B-26 Bombers in defense of Europe during the Cold War. His deployment included time at the Sidi Slimane Air Base, Morocco; Wheelus Air Base, Libya, as well Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany. Honorably discharged, George was hired at Air Products Inc. where he worked as a sheet metal worker for nearly 30 years. He also worked at APD Cryogenics making parts that were part of the solid rocket boosters of the Space Shuttle program until his retirement in 1996. He enjoyed driving across the country for sightseeing vacations with his wife Nancy. He also coached in the Southern Lehigh Youth Football Association from 1971-79 where he was the head coach of the 85lb Championship team in 1976.
He also was a volunteer freshman football coach at Allentown Central Catholic High School in 1982 and Salisbury High School in 1999. He was an ardent follower of high school football in the Lehigh Valley since his youth. Living in Allentown all of his life,
George built a home on land that he played on as a kid and that had been in his family since 1911. It was there he raised his family that used the 2.5 acre homestead that he built in 1968. This served as his family's retreat for holiday gatherings and holiday
picnics. It was also the site of the Christmas Eve gathering after the candlelight service. He greatly enjoyed watching his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren grown and would light up when a car full of his kids' would drive up the driveway.
He added a swimming pool in 1990 served as the cool spot where his grand-children and great-grand-children on hot summer days. He also was an avid dog supporter and loved his pets as strongly as he loved his children.
George is survived by his wife of 61 years, Nancy Carol Fink Feifel; his children Linda Tierno and husband John of Salisbury Twp.; Mark Feifel of Allentown; and Mike Feifel and his wife Stacy of Walnutport; his grandchildren Kristin Stokes; Laura Ede and her husband Tom; Mark Feifel Jr. and Ashley Feifel; Jared Tierno and wife Rachel; Zachary, Ryan, and Alexandra Feifel; Nicole Cooper and her husband Matt; Isabelle Herman; Emmett Marin and his wife Lisa. He also has 11 great-grand children.
He is predeceased in death by his brother, John James Feifel who passed away in 2014 and daughter Cynthia L. Herman (d. Nov. 30, 2013) and widower Jeff Herman, Fogelsville, PA. He also leaves behind his golden Labrador retriever Jake' who will miss him dearly.
In lieu of flowers please make contributions to the ASPCA in George's name. ASPCA PO Box 96929 Washington, DC 20090-6929 or your local animal shelter.