John W. Kostenbader

John Walter Kostenbader , 84, of Nazareth passed away on March, 29, 2024 at Country Meadows Retirement Village surrounded by family and his loving wife Veronica (Frisch) Kostenbader. John was born June 10th, 1939, in Easton to Corinne (Ramer) Kostenbader and Walter S. Kostenbader.

After graduating from Nazareth Area High School in 1957, John completed his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the Pennsylvania State University in 1961. After college, John serve his country in the United States Air Force as a tactical missile officer in Denver, Colorado. He was honorably discharged in 1965 as a 1st Lieutenant.  Early in John's military service he married Mary Ann Tripp and raised four wonderful children.

In 1966, John joined his father, Walter, in running Suncrest Farms Drive-In, located in Wind Gap. John assumed full management of Suncrest in 1969, and it became known in the Lehigh Valley for it's soft-serve ice cream. John went on to develop Suncrest Steakhouse after the Drive-In burned down. He successfully ran the Steakhouse for many years. Later, John entered into a partnership managing Blue Valley Bowling Lanes. John rolled a number of perfect, 300 games and was inducted into the Slate Belt Hall of Fame.

John married Veronica Kern in 1989 and together they enjoyed a rural property in Wind Gap where they kept horses and enjoyed the outdoors. John was fond of hunting and fishing and observing all the wildlife in the local area. In 2013 they donated 30 acres to the Wildlands Conservancy.

Survivors: John is survived by his wife Veronica Kostenbader of 34 years, his brother Tom Kostenbader, and sisters Claire Roberts and Ann Hahn, his daughter Susan Decker and his three sons, John D. Kostenbader, Kyle J. Kostenbader, Daniel T. Kostenbader and step-son Bruce Kern, along with five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services: The family will receive friends on Monday, April 8th from 10:00am to 11:00am at the Bartholomew-Schisler Funeral home, 211 E. Center Street, Nazareth, PA 18064. A service will be conducted at the funeral home at 11:00am. Interment will immediately follow at the Greenwood Cemetery in Nazareth PA.

Contributions: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Wounded Warriors Project, care of the funeral home.