THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE  Sergeant Edward W. Gundel Pennsylvania State Police Troop "C-4" 1916-1962

Biographical Info
Age: 45
Years of Service: 24½ years

Incident Details
Cause of Death:  two 16-gauge shotgun blasts
Date of Incident: March 18, 1962


Edward W. Gundel was born July 4, 1916, at Highspire, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

Prior to enlisting in the Pennsylvania Motor Police, he served with Troop K, 104th Cavalry, Pennsylvania National Guard, from October 3, 1934, to October 2, 1937. He enlisted with the Pennsylvania Motor Police from Harrisburg on September 1, 1937, and was assigned to Troop C-4, Reading. Gundel was 21, and was 5'10" tall.

 On March 18, 1962, at 8:30 p.m., Sergeant Gundel was called to assist Chief Clayton of the Pine Grove Police Department serve a warrant on Theodore Kemmerling. Kemmerling was a young Pine Grove resident who had assault and battery charges against him. He had fled his home. While searching the area, the officers spotted Kemmerling enter a building through a window. As Sergeant Gundel approached the building, Kemmerling shot him with two 16-gauge shotgun blasts. Sergeant Gundel died instantly. Kemmerling was later apprehended and charged with murder.

Sergeant Gundel is buried in Saint John's Lutheran Cemetery in Pine Grove. He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Margretta Gundel, of Pine Grove.

At 45, Sergeant Gundel had completed 24½ years of Pennsylvania State Police service.