Obituaries

Erk A. Ketels, M.D., 88

November 06, 2018

Erk A. Ketels, M.D., 88, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Tuesday, November 6th at home in Manheim Twp. He was born in Hamburg, Germany to the late Dr. med. Johann Erich and Gertrud Ketels. He was married to his loving wife, the late Elvira Jacqueline Ketels, for 36 years.

Erk completed his medical school at the University of Heidelberg, Germany. He came to the United States to practice medicine with encouragement from his uncle, Dr. med. Christian Friedrich Ketels of Manhattan. He completed rotating internships at Jersey City, NJ Medical Center and Lower Bucks County Hospital, Bristol, PA. He then completed his obstetrics and gynecology residency at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. Mortimer Nelson, MD, then welcomed him into his thriving obstetrics and gynecology practice in Levittown PA. He practiced for many years in Bucks County, PA as a successful physician where he was loved and respected by his patients and the medical community.

Erk loved and lived for his family, spending his time with them, whether at home in Willingboro NJ, skiing in Lake Harmony, PA or down the shore in Beach Haven, NJ. He enjoyed following tennis and traveling the circuit up and down the East coast with Elvira. He would babysit his grandchildren any moment he could – driving from Willingboro to Lancaster to Martinsville in a memorized loop. He loved the outdoors, walking and biking as much as he could. Being “home” in Hamburg, Germany and his family’s ancestral home on the North Frisian island of Föhr always made his heart full.

He is survived by his children: Dr. Erik and wife Elin of Lancaster, PA, Christina (Ketels) and husband Brett Della Volpe of Martinsville, NJ; his six beloved grandchildren: Katarina, Erich-Vincent, Jacqueline, Peter-Christian, Christian, & Isabella. He is also survived by sister, Ingke Ketels, and brother Hark Volkert Ketels, both of Hamburg, Germany. His extended family filled his life with joy: all of his nieces and nephews, Eike Heise, Ralph, Joseph, & Suzanne Touch & Valerie Welch. He is predeceased by his wife, his sister, Karin Heise, and his in-laws, Marguerite (Touch) & John F. Welch, and Filomena & Ralph Touch. He was always surrounded with love. They all miss him dearly.

Family and friends are invited to attend the memorial service and interment at Holy Innocents Parish in Beach Haven, NJ on December 2nd, 2018. Please contact Erik or Christina for further information. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Erk’s memory by donating a day of hospice to a needy patient through “One Gift, One Day” www.hospiceconnect.org

Leave a condolence on this Memorial Page


Be sure to include your name

Please note that your condolence will not appear on this page until it is reviewed. Condolences usually appear within 24 hours of being submitted.

Condolences to the Family

April 11, 2021

To the family of Dr. Ketels, my deep condolences for the loss of your loved one. He delivered my third baby on July 4, 1980 at Lower Bucks Hospital in Pa. and remember him as a wonderful, kind and caring Dr. He will never be forgotten in our home. RIP Dr. Ketels
Gail Obert

December 15, 2018

My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family as you grieve the loss of your beloved Dr. Ketels.  He was a wonderful man and physician.  I was his patient many moons ago.  Dr. Nelson was my doctor and I was mortified when I had to see Dr. Ketels because Dr. Nelson was away.  He was only 12 years older than me and so good looking but I had no choice and eventually he became my doctor.  I always felt confident in all his medical decisions and advise he gave me.  May his soul rest in peace and may you find comfort in knowing he is in Heaven with Our Lord.

November 12, 2018

Please receive our love and prayers as you remember with tears and joy the very full life of your loved one.
Blessings Ketels Family. –The Acosta Family

November 11, 2018

To the Ketels Family,
It has been many many years more like 41 years since I saw your father.  You see he delivered my first child at Lower Bucks Hospital.  He was a very caring and had alot of compassion for a new mother.  Things were way different in OB/GYN all those years ago.  He had a way to make you feel comfortable and less anxious while in labor.  I remember him sitting with my husband and I telling us how easy this was going to be and to try to get some sleep as it was going to be a long night.  However my son had a different agenda and in less than a half hour of him leaving my room he had to come back for a fast delivery.  2 1/2 years later my second child was born and that took for ever.  I started with your father and after 17 hours of labor Dr. Nelson ended up delivering my daughter.  I had a lot of respect for bother doctors, however your father always stood out as someone that enjoyed what he was doing and not afraid to treat his patients with respect and make them feel like family.  I didn’t have any more children and in 1988 moved to Lancaster County never giving it another thought.  Was so surprised that he lived in Manheim Twp.  What a small world it is.  My deepest sympathy to the family of such a great doctor.

November 11, 2018

To Eric and Ellen,
This is Brenda Jacobson from Campus Eye. Eric, it was a priviledge to know your father. I am sure there are many former patients of his that feel the very same way. It is with sympathy and heavy heart that I write this note to you and your family. This chapter in our lives is never easy, but I am comforted to know that he was with you and more importantly that you were with him as he went to his heavenly home. Please know that you are in our prayers and we will keep you close in the days ahead. I am sorry that this note had to be done this way, but I had no way of getting a card to you. With many hugs!!!! Brenda Jacobson

November 11, 2018

 Christina and Erik,
 Sorry to hear about your dad… But what a neat guy! 
 I first met your father when I was a Temple resident at Lower Bucks Hospital in 1986. I then joined my father-in-law Jerry Naples in practice (the OTHER local practice….not NKDS) and had the opportunity to work with your Dad until he retired. Always very Teutonic and reserved on the outside but a wicked wit and great sense of humor on the inside…..and a great Doc. 
Mark Kuhn
 
 

Services
Sunday, December 02, 2018
Holy Innocents Parish
Beach Haven, New Jersey
Map and Directions

Get Maps and Directions >
Send Flowers Online

Offering Lancaster, PA funeral services for over 75 years.

Our six funeral homes in Lancaster County makes it easy and convenient to make arrangements and host services close to home.

  • Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home Downtown Lancaster
  • 414 East King St.
  • 717-393-9661
  • Charles F. (Chip) Snyder, Jr. Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info
  • Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home Lititz Pike
  • 3110 Lititz Pike
  • 717-560-5100
  • Charles F. (Chad) Snyder, III Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info
  • Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home Millersville
  • 441 North George St.
  • 717-872-5041
  • Mark D. Burkholder Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info
  • Spacht-Snyder Family Funeral Home Lititz, PA
  • 127 South Broad St.
  • 717-626-2317
  • Jacqueline Adamson Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info
  • Bachman-Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory Strasburg, PA
  • 7 South Decatur Street
  • 717-687-7644
  • Norman T. Mable Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info
  • Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home Willow Street, PA
  • 2421 Willow Street Pike
  • 717-464-4600
  • Kelly Gramola Townsend Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info