Rodney Rhodaberger continues to enjoy life as community celebrates him
DONEGAL TWP — It doesn’t take long to realize how beloved Rodney Rhodaberger is by his community.
When hundreds of people turned out for a benefit at the Happy Hunters’ Sportsman’s Club to support Rhodaberger, who is battling brain cancer, his family members joked that “most of the people here are related.” Family and friends alike came from far and wide to support the man they say has touched the lives of others.
“How can I go wrong? I’m surrounded by beautiful people,” Rhodaberger said. “Everybody’s been so wonderful.”
Through thick and thin, Rhodaberger’s family has always kept moving forward. When his grandchildren’s father, Robert, died in 2015 at age 32, or when their house burned down months later, Rhodaberger was there for them, they said.
Rhodaberger’s diagnoses in late 2025 — stage 4 glioblastoma — gave him a life expectancy of roughly two years. But you wouldn’t assume that based on the uplifting spirit of the Saturday, May 16, benefit for Rhodaberger and his family.
“It was not hard finding volunteers for this. It was not hard finding people who wanted to support us, who wanted to support our pap,” said Destiny Manchester, Rhodaberger’s granddaughter. “It took us several months to get this all together. It took a tremendous amount of effort to put this together, but with the effort of everybody’s it’s turned out amazing.”
The benefit crammed the property full of people while they talked over burgers and fries, nachos, cotton candy, desserts and beer. “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd and other classics blasted in the air, while the massive family and their friends played football and cornhole. Enjoying life, Rodney’s smile was the most noticeable part.
“This means a lot. It shows how he has been there for everybody in their lives and he’s meant something to everybody. All these people are giving back the love that he’s given them,” said Anastasia Manchester, another of Rhodaberger’s grandchildren.
Rhodaberger has been, possibly, Anastasia’s biggest fan as she prepares for another run at a PIAA wrestling championship going into her senior year.
“It’s been hard, watching your pap go through something like this is not a good feeling. But he’s OK with the way he is. He’s in high hopes, so we’re in high hopes with him,” Anastasia said.
The main building on the property of Happy Hunters’ was lined with tables of raffle baskets to raise money, giving away things like houseware, grills, coolers, cases of beer, televisions and additional items. Friends buying raffle tickets weren’t worried about what they could win — they know the money is going toward a decent, hard working family.
“The community support, it’s overwhelming. There’s a lot of love here. It’s special,” said Rhodaberger’s wife, Josie.
The money, according to the Manchester’s, will go toward things like helping their grandmother after Rhodaberger dies.
“We don’t really have too, too much time left. And he doesn’t have any life insurance or anything, so we want to make sure their house is taken care of, because it needs some work on it too,” his granddaughter said. “Just to make sure Nana can keep going and keep living her life. She was going to pick up a job and I said let’s do this benefit.”
The family continues to cope by making what they describe as dumb, morbid jokes, saying Rhodaberger likes to go along with them.
“It keeps him happy. We do that and we try to put our sadness on the side when we’re not around him,” Destiny said. “To us, that’s the last thing he needs for his last moments. He should live. He should eat whatever food he wants. He should drink beer. Why not?”
It’s a tough subject to address, they admit. They know Rhodaberger only has a short amount of time. But even with stage 4 glioblastoma, he’s only worrying about the people around him and the life he’s currently living.
“The family’s here all the time. They’re always here helping me out. They’re just so great,” Rhodaberger said.
