Nancy G. (Schmidt) Harper
Nancy Gale (Schmidt) Harper, 93, died March 11, 2023, at Country Meadows, Allentown, in the loving care of her children and grandchildren, Lifesong Hospice, and the staff of Country Meadows. Born
August 19, 1929, Nancy grew up in Englewood, New Jersey with her younger brother, Skip (Ray) and her parents, Ray and Ethel Gale, all deceased. She attended Dwight Morrow High School where she was a cheerleader, co-captain, and class queen. Nancy graduated from Centenary College in Hackettstown, New Jersey. Following college, she worked as a service representative for New Jersey Bell. She married her first husband and the father of her five children, Victor R. Schmidt, Jr., in 1950. They raised their family at Meadowbrook Farm in Emmaus. During that time, Nancy was active at St. John's Lutheran Church, Allentown, and in the community, including the Junior Aides at The Allentown Hospital, and raising money for the YWCA and United Way. She also served on the board of the Lutheran Home at Topton for nine years. A lifelong knitter, Nancy started Kraemer Yarns, a teaching and retail shop at the family business, Kraemer Textiles, that was the impetus for their line of hand knitting yarns in the 1980's. Following Vic 's death in 1995, Nancy spent time in the condo they had bought in Palm City, Florida, where she met Donald Harper. They married the following year, living at Piper's Landing in Palm City for most of the year, with summers spent at Bald Peak Colony Club on
Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. They traveled extensively, later retiring full time to Palm City, and eventually moving into Sand
Hill Cove Retirement Community. Don died in 2021, and, following a series of health issues, Nancy moved back to Allentown. A fierce and determined competitor, Nancy excelled at sports including paddle tennis and tennis – she was a tennis champion at both Lehigh Country Club and later Bald Peak Colony Club in New Hampshire. She also played golf and became women's croquet champion at Sand Hill Cove. Nancy loved playing cards, and became an excellent duplicate bridge player. She also loved to walk and swam as often as she could. She will be greatly missed by her five children: Gale (Dan) Ellenberger; David (Sharon) Schmidt; Vicki (Peter) Lindabury; Peter (Diana) Schmidt; and Victor F. Schmidt; by Don Harper's four children: Laura (Eric); Greg (Karen); Steve (Jenny); and Peter (Lee); by ten grandchildren: Dave and Tasia Schmidt; Michael and Kristen Hodavance; Shawn, Keith and Jamie Lindabury; Audrey, Frances and Greg Schmidt; and by thirteen great grandchildren. She will also be missed by her nieces and nephews, friends, and sports and bridge partners. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, March 17th, at The Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, 3461 S. Cedar Crest Boulevard, Emmaus, Pa., where Nancy was an active member for many years. Visiting hours will begin at 10 a.m. at the church. Schantz Funeral Home, P.C. in Emmaus is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Nancy's name to Treasure Coast Hospice Foundation, 1201 SE Indian Street, Stuart, FL 34997. www. treasurehealth.org.