The obituary of John A. Brommer, from the Pine Grove Press-Herald, October 12, 1972.
JOHN A. BROMMER – NOTED MUSICIAN DIES AT 79
John A. Bromer of 25 Maple Street, Pine Grove, well-known band leader, died on October 4 [1972] in Pottsville Hospital at the age of 79.
Born in Pine Grove, Mr. Brommer was a son of the late Franklin Brommer and Mary Ann [Achenbach] Brommer. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church.
His wife, the former Ruth Fry, died in 1960; a daughter Joan Brommer, in 1965; and a son, George Brommer, in 1970.
Survivors include three sons: Richard Brommer and Harry Brommer, Pine Grove, and John Pershing Brommer, Middletown; one daughter, Alverta [Brommer] Spittler, wife of Ernest Spittler, Pine Grove; eleven grandchildren; three brothers: Robert Brommer and Daniel Brommer, Pine Grove; Emanuel Brommer, of Rexmont; and one sister, Mrs. Rankin Fisher, Pine Grove.
His funeral was held on Sunday afternoon from the Snyder Funeral Home followed by burial in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery. The Rev. Charles Shade conducted the services.
John A. Brommer worked for his father, F. F. Brommer, along with his brother Dan Brommer, for many years, with “Brommers Blacksmith” and “Brommer and Achenbach Wheelwright and Paint Shop.” Their work included horseshoeing, general blacksmithing, wagon building and a wide variety of related jobs. A modern body shop with engine tune-up, etc., would be comparable to the combination of blacksmithing, building and re-building done by the Brommers and Achenbachs early in the century.
After his father retired, John Brommer worked for himself until the increase in automobiles and motorized farm equipment made him decided to close his shop. He accepted a job at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia where he received a number of promotions during his years there. While he was in Philadelphia he played with the Wheeler Club string band. Through his efforts, the Pine Grove Band, under the leadership of I. J. Leffler, played in the Mummers Parade for a number of years.
During his lifetime, Mr. Leffler played in 32 different bands. He played with many well-known musicians, including Tom Dorsey Sr., father of Tommy Dorsey and Jimmy Dorsey. In the 1920’s he had his own dance band. Later on, he conducted the German Band, better known as the “Hungry Five,” for many years. He played with his sons and daughter with “The Hicks From from the Sticks.”
Brommer was also a composer and arranger of music, a fact known to few except his family and close friends. For many years he was solo clarinetist with the Rehrersburg Band under the leadership of Ralph C. Klopp.
Brommer taught music to all his own children, and many others as well. At one time he had a class of fourteen clarinetists.
The name of John A. Brommer – along with those of I. J. Leffler, John Unger, Jessie Huber, Tom Conway, John Leffler, and others – will be long remembered by band lovers in Pine Grove.
At his funeral, the Pine Grove Band, under the leadership of his son, Harry Brommer, played two selections at the Snyder Funeral Home: “Nearer My God to Thee” and “Abide With Me.” At the cemetery, the band made its last farewell to its old leader with “Now The Day is Over.”
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Obituary from Newspapers.com.
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