Nelson A. Brecht, Jr., 83 of Lampeter, passed away, Thursday, January 5, 2012, at Lancaster General Hospital. He was married to the late Virginia Mary Polignone Brecht for 43 years before her death in 1992.

Born in Jeannette, PA, he was the son of the late Nelson A. Sr. and Anna V. Polkosky Brecht. Nelson served in the US Navy at the end of WWII and then during the Korean War. He worked as a salesman for Raub Supply Company for 43 years.

Nelson was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus #867. An avid hunter, he was a life member of Shur-Shot Gun Club in Potter County. He was a life member of Paul R. Strubel VFW Post #8710, Strasburg, where he was past commander and served as president numerous times, and he was a longtime volunteer of Lampeter Fire Company.

Nelson was dearly loved by his three daughters for being an exceptional father, Barbara Ann, wife of Chester L. Bentley, III, Lancaster, Virginia Mary Weaver, Lancaster, and JoAnn M., wife of John T. Eshleman, Lampeter. He loved and enjoyed spending time with his 8 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by siblings Margaret Boyer, Patricia Kuzma and Edward Brecht.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, January 8, 2012, from 6-7 PM, followed by a Memorial Service at 7 PM, at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, January 9, 2012, at 11 AM at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 501 E. Orange St., Lancaster, PA, with The Rev. Daniel C. Mitzel as Celebrant. Private Interment with Military Honors in St. Joseph New Catholic Cemetery. Please omit flowers. Contributions can be made in honor of Nelson's great-granddaughter to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Western PA Chapter, 810 River Avenue, Suite 100, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Please write "Sofia Martin" in the memo. To send the family online condolences, please visit  SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory 717-560-5100