Tamaqua native and World War II veteran John “Carl” Hafer recently celebrated his 100th birthday.

About 100 family members and friends gathered for the celebration at the Deer Lake and West Brunswick Fire Company in Deer Lake.

His sister, Betty Hafer, of Tamaqua, said a collage of photographs of Carl was shown on a screen, and good food and a “very big” cake were served.

State Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, and state Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, attended the party and presented Hafer with certificates marking his Sept. 21 birthday.

He graduated from Tamaqua High School in 1940, then enlisted in the Navy in late 1944. He served as a seaman first class and was stationed at the Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island. He was honorably discharged in April 1946.

After the military, he worked for a local railroad company then retired from General Electric in Allentown, his sister said.

He was a volunteer for many civic organizations, including the Tamaqua Boy Scouts.

“He was one of the leaders. He was a leader for Dave Argall,” Betty Hafer said.

He resides at Weston Senior Living Pinebrook near Orwigsburg.

He and his wife, the late Jean Fisher, have sons Ted and Greg Hafer, and a daughter, Esther Borascius. Their son, John Carl Jr., passed away.