Our Team

Michael Gladfelter

Funeral Director

On February 17, 1986, Michael Gladfelter joined the Diehl Funeral Home as one of the funeral directors. Michael, a native of York County, was raised in Seven Valleys, and was a graduate of Spring Grove High School. Prior to his employment with the Diehl Funeral Home, he worked with Pumphrey Funeral Home in Bethesda, Maryland. He holds a license in both states of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Michael graduated in 1984 from the Mortuary Science Department of Catonsville Community College, Baltimore County, Maryland. In 1992, after working with the Diehl Family for six years, Michael and Leonard reached an agreement where Michael would be the successor to the Diehl Funeral Home and continue the rich tradition of service to area families. He continues to build on the many years of history with projects of remodeling, redecorating and growing both the facility and services.

William Christopher

Funeral Director

William lives in York County and is a graduate of Mansfield University and Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He has been a licensed funeral director for more than 30 years in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. William also is a licensed life insurance agent with more than 30 years of Pre-Planning & Pre-funding experience.  In Bills spare time he enjoys, traveling, fishing and spending time with his family

Karin Figueroa

Funeral Director

Karin began working for Diehl in 2012 as a funeral director intern. After becoming licensed, she worked at other funeral homes in York and Lancaster counties and has continued assisting at Diehl over the years. Karin has been working as the secretary for Diehl Funeral Home since the beginning of 2021. Karin attended the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and Point Park University. She lives in Lancaster with her husband, Jose, and their two sons, Liam and Marius. They enjoy spending time with their extended family and friends.

Larry Murray

Funeral Service Assistant

Larry comes to us from Columbia, Lancaster County. He graduated from Hempfield High School in 2001 and is presently a student at Harrisburg Area Community College, Lancaster Campus. He is one of our funeral service assistants but in addition to that he also lends his talents to some of the gardening, maintenance and office duties. His skills are a great asset to the funeral home and the families we serve. Larry is especially kind, empathic and eager to assist our guests upon arriving at the funeral home.

Lane Benda

Funeral Service Assistant

Lane began his career in funeral service by working for Legacy One in Beckley, West Virginia, which owned funeral homes and cemeteries. After leaving West Virginia, he came to York where he was employed for a short time in a funeral home and then retired in 2004 from Prospect Hill and Greenmount cemeteries. We are grateful to have Lane’s eager ability and professionalism assisting families at Diehl Funeral Home.

Ted Grothe

Funeral Service Assistant

Ted will greet you and guide you while inside our facilities. He was born in Southampton, Long Island, New York, and graduated from high school in southern Maryland. Ted is from a military family, which required moves every few years. The longest time he spent in one place was 5½ years in Naples, Italy. Ted continued the family tradition by joining the service and is a Viet Nam veteran. He is retired from the Department of Defense and enjoys gardening, coin collecting, traveling and grandchildren.

Delores Gladfelter

Receptionist

Delores is Michael’s mother and is the faithful receptionist for nearly all of our evening visitations and services. A debt of gratitude is extended to Delores for the hard work that she puts into cleaning and polishing the entire funeral home. In addition to Michael, Delores and Cleason have four daughters and countless grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also finds time to work at her church and helps all others in need of assistance. Delores is retired from AMP Inc. as an inspector.

Gloria Snelbaker

Gloria is our very gifted and capable secretary. She comes to the Diehl Funeral Home with much experience, having served as the executive secretary to the Superintendent of the Northeastern School District. Gloria has been blessed with one daughter, one son, and one granddaughter. Her time away from the funeral home is divided between her family, the Northeastern Senior Center, and delivering meals on wheels to those less fortunate.

Robert Yacoviello

Robert completed his masters’ degree in vocal performance. Robert also studied in Orvieto, Italy with Opera Lirica a Oriveto. He has also studied at Boston University under the tutelage of Susan Ormont. He has performed on stages in numerous countries including Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Russia, and Switzerland. Robert performs regularly with Center Stage Opera, and runs a voice studio in York, Pennsylvania.

Joan Beekey

Organist

Joan is an on-call organist for funeral services at the funeral home.  She enjoys working with soloists, and is glad to know of favorite hymns or other music that a family would like to hear during their service.  She is a member of the York Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and a substitute organist at churches in York.  She was a medical librarian at York Hospital, is now enjoying retirement.

Richard Frey

Organist

Richard E. Frey is a native of Bethlehem, PA.  He has degrees from Westminster Choir college, Boston University, and Palmer Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.  He has served as Minister of Music at churches in Binghamton, NY, Wayne, A., Ridgewood, NJ, Hanover, PA, and has served since 2011 at the Unitarian/Universalist Congregation of York.  He has given recitals at St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC, the West Point Cadet Chapel, and at Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA.  He twice accompanied Peter, Paul, and Mary at the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, NJ.  He served as organist for the national convention of the National Council of Churches in Cleveland in 1981.  He served on the Worship Planning Committee for the National Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland in 1986.  He has presented benefit concerts for "Bread for the World" and many other organizations.  As a composer, Dick has 23 works published.  He has made 8 recordings of organ music.  He is married to Susan Dotterer Frey, also a graduate of Westminster Choir College, and a Print Music Specialist at Menchey Music in Hanover, PA.  The Freys have 3 children, 5 grandchildren, and lots of pets! 

Robert M. Knaper

Minister of Music

Bob Knaper is a native of York County hailing from Dallastown, PA.  After graduating from Dallastown High School, he matriculated to Mansfield University where he earned a BS in music education with a concentration in organ.

Since graduating in 1980, Bob has continually been involved in church work in a number of churches in the surrounding area.  

A few of the congregations in which he served include:

Trinity United Church of Christ in Hallam, PA; 

Grace United Church of Christ in York, PA, 

Second Church of the Brethren, York, PA

Retiring from his primary occupation in 2019, he currently serves as Minister of Music at St. Jacob’s United Church of Christ and music director at St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church, both in York New Salem, PA.

Brenda Kerchner

Organist

Brenda is a native of Dallastown now living in Brogue, Pa. with her husband Fred and 3 dogs. She has served as organist, choir director and bell choir director at St.Paul U.C.C. and organist at St. John U.C.C. both in Dallastown for the past 33 years. She was the accompanist for the York Chorus for 15 years playing for concerts all over the area as well as Longwood Gardens. She enjoys playing all genres of music on piano or organ. 

Donald Brenneman

Donald A. Brenneman, a nephew of L. E. Diehl; was born August 12, 1925 in Mount Wolf. He graduated in 1947 from Eckel’s in Philadelphia, when he joined his uncle in the family’s establishment. 

Cleason Gladfelter

Cleason is Mike’s father and is one of the funeral service assistants.  When he isn’t assisting with services you might find him maintaining the fleet of automobiles for the funeral home or performing various other duties to keep the funeral home running smoothly.  In addition to Michael, Cleason and Delores have four daughters, countless grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  In his spare time he loves to tinker around his home on various projects.  He is retired from Medusa Cement in West York.