A section of Pennsylvania Route 183 has been dedicated to Staff Sgt. Norman Reifsnyder, a U.S. Army veteran from North Heidelberg Township, following a ceremony hosted by Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48) in Bernville.
“Staff Sgt. Reifsnyder was a veteran and a pillar of the Mount Pleasant community,” Gebhard said during the event. “When he passed away earlier this year, a constituent reached out suggesting we honor him. After learning more about his remarkable life and service, I was proud to sponsor legislation to name a portion of Route 183 near his family home in his memory.”
Reifsnyder graduated from Penn Bernville High School in 1939 before serving as a staff sergeant in radio communications with the U.S. Army’s 80th Division during World War II. His military service included deployments in France, Luxembourg, the Battle of the Bulge, and Rhineland, Germany. He received both the Bronze Star and Soldier’s Medal for acts of bravery.
After leaving military service, Reifsnyder operated a dairy farm with his family for over two decades and was recognized as the Reading Fair Outstanding Farm Family in 1962. He participated in local agricultural programs such as the Penn State Berks County Master Gardener Program and maintained lifelong involvement with North Heidelberg Church. Reifsnyder died at age 103 at his home in Bernville in February 2025.
The road dedication was made possible through legislation sponsored by Gebhard that was added to Senate Bill 78 and signed into law in June.
