Separated by different time zones and located in opposite ends of the country, it seemed as though they were worlds apart.

For decades, Gary Neifert Sr. was aware he had a long-lost stepbrother and stepsister.The three shared the same birth father, Andrew Diehl, who was raised in Lehighton.Neifert's grandfather at one time owned Bossard's Hotel in Lehighton.When Neifert, who lives in Cherryville, was young, his mother Dorothy (Christman) Diehl, got remarried to an Irvin Neifert.Neifert, whose birth name was Gary Diehl, subsequently had his last name legally changed."I knew I had a long lost (step) brother and (step) sister," said Neifert, 72. "But, I didn't know where they were."Little did Neifert know he was but only a few months away from meeting Barbara (Diehl) Andrews and Art Diehl.Locating his siblingsLaid up in his Lehigh Township home following an operation this past January, Neifert said he had plenty of time to think.It was during that time when Neifert said he got the idea to have his son and daughter-in-law do some research on their computer to try to locate Andrews and Diehl.Eventually, Neifert obtained the phone number for his cousin's wife, Peggy. Neifert called Peggy and asked if she could give him Andrew "Chip" Diehl's son's and daughter's addresses. She did.Getting in touchHe contacted Diehl, his long-lost stepbrother."I got on the phone and called my (step) brother," Neifert said. "He answered, and I said, 'Do you know who I am,' and he said, 'I have your baptism certificate.'"Diehl, who resides in Yucaipa, California, said he was surprised to receive a call from his brother."It was total shock, possibly a total surprise," said Diehl, 62. "I kind of knew in the past, but I didn't know if he was alive."Diehl then called Andrews, his biological sister, and told her to expect a call from Neifert.It was a call neither would forget. "I told her I was her stepbrother," Neifert said."Once I said that, she was more or less shocked."Upon hearing from her long-lost stepbrother, it was a feeling of disbelief for Andrews, of Lake Arrowhead, California."I was surprised," said Andrews, 65. "I think if my parents would be alive, that they would have been angry; it's just their personalities.""What happened is in the past. They're gone, and I have a life to live."Meeting each otherOver a half-century later, the three siblings finally met on Sept. 7 at Neifert's home.Each of the siblings had their own take on the long-awaited encounter."We hugged each other, and then entered the home," Andrews said. "I couldn't believe that he actually existed.""I was excited," Diehl said. "They said Gary looked like my dad, and when I saw him, it was like seeing my dad alive.""I couldn't wait to meet them; I was really looking forward to it," Neifert said. "It's something I always wanted; I just wish we could have met earlier in life."Family lifeNeifert, who owns Gary's Barber Shop in Lehighton, is about to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife, Louise, this February. The couple has two sons, Gary Jr. of Moore Township, and Matthew, of Fredericktown, Washington County.Neifert also has another stepbrother, Jody Neifert, of Franklin Township, and a stepsister, Ondrea, of Easton.Andrews is widowed. She has a daughter, Michelle, who lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Diehl is single. He has a daughter, Janell, of Martinez, California, and a son, Curtis, of San Diego.