Earl Garges Rosenberger, 98, of Souderton, Pennsylvania, formerly of Harrisonburg, Virginia, passed away on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at Souderton Mennonite Homes.

Earl was the beloved husband of the late L. Elaine (Weaver) Rosenberger and the late Doris A. (Risser) Miller Rosenberger. Born on October 20, 1927, in Hilltown Township, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Henry Rosenberger and the late Lydia (Garges) Rosenberger.

A graduate of Hilltown High School, Class of 1945, Earl was on his senior class trip to New York City when the streets erupted in celebration of the Nazi surrender that ended fighting in the European theater during World War II. During the winter of 1945-46, he aided early post-war relief efforts, serving as a “seagoing cowboy” on the SS Morgantown Victory, tending and delivering horses to Gdansk, Poland to help farmers whose lands and livelihoods had been decimated during the war. Just 18 years old, Earl was one of the youngest men on the crew. The two-month trip was a formative experience during which he forged lifelong friendships with other livestock tenders on the crew from across the country. He was believed to be the last living member of that group at the time of his death.

In early adulthood, Earl worked with his father on the Bucks County dairy farm where his family had lived for generations. He later served his community as a letter carrier in Chalfont, Pennsylvania until he retired from the U.S. Postal Service in the late 1990s. He went on to work part-time at Sanford Alderfer Auction Company, and volunteered with the Mennonite Historians of Eastern Pennsylvania, working at the Mennonite Heritage Center in Harleysville, Pennsylvania, and demonstrating old-time farm equipment at their annual Apple Butter Frolic each fall. After moving to Virginia, he worked part-time at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, until he fully retired at age 90.

A devoted man of faith, Earl was a member of Perkasie Mennonite Church for more than 50 years, serving actively in leadership and support roles. After his retirement from the Postal Service, he moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he was an active member of Park View Mennonite Church until he returned to Pennsylvania in 2022. He loved singing, frequently adding his strong baritone to men’s a capella groups and choirs in his church communities.

Friends and family remember Earl for his kindness and generosity, as well as his easy sense of humor. He and his wives frequently opened their home to new members of their church communities, and volunteered to host visitors and Mennonite cultural exchange participants. In retirement, he and Doris were avid travelers, exploring other cultures as well as their Mennonite roots in the U.S. and Europe.

Earl is survived by his four children: E. Wayne Rosenberger and his wife, Joan, of Stephens City, Virginia; Eileen R. Dalzell and her husband, Robert, of Bethesda, Maryland; Joel R. Rosenberger and his wife, Shirley, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania; and Amy L. Rosenberger and her husband, Michael Zungolo, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is also survived by his three stepdaughters: Karen Mast of Hillsboro, New Mexico; Kathy Weaver and her husband, Kenneth, of Harrisonburg, Virginia; and Kristen Boren of Hillsboro, New Mexico.

He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and wives, he was preceded in death by his brother, Abram G. Rosenberger; his sister-in-law, Kathryn H. Rosenberger; his sisters, Anna R. Detweiler and Ethel R. Wenger; and his brothers-in-law, Alvin Detweiler and Warren Wenger.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation on Saturday, September 5, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Souderton Mennonite Homes, 207 W. Summit Street, Souderton, PA 18964. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 11:00 a.m.

Private inurnment will take place at Perkasie Mennonite Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Benevolent Care Fund at Souderton Mennonite Homes (www.livingbranches.org) or to Heifer International (www.heifer.org).

Arrangements are by Anders-Detweiler Funeral Home & Crematory, 130 East Broad Street, Souderton, PA 18964. Condolences may be shared with the family through the funeral home's website at www.AndersFH.com.