Schuylkill County Obituaries for 04/07/2018
Joseph F. Wapinsky, 92, of Pottsville, passed away peacefully in the comfort of family and friends on Wednesday afternoon at his residence in Providence Place, Pottsville, where he lived since February 2015. He was always sharing his adventures with residents and staff who all grew to love his charming personality and found him to be an interesting man with a real passion for life.
Born in Saint Clair, on November 29, 1925, he was a son of the late Mary (Gustitus) and Clayton Wapinsky.
Joe was a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville.
He was a graduate of Saint Clair High School and a three sport varsity player and was considered to be one of St Clairs most gifted athletes. Joe had a dream of playing pro baseball after graduation, but instead he chose to enlist in the U.S. Navy to fight in WWII. After his military service Joe played football for the Pottsville Maroons in 1946. He was finally fortunate enough to achieve his dream of playing professional baseball and played for two years with Oil City, PA Mid Atlantic League. He was pursued and bought by Buffalo, but decided collegiate baseball would be a better choice and chose to play for George Washington College where he also received a business degree.
Joe also loved bowling and became well known for his ability at it, often scoring numerous perfect games. These competitions took him to many states over the years. Not being content with that in his later years, he also fell in love with the game of golf.
For many years he was the owner/operator at Wapinsky Brothers Gulf and Texaco station in Pottsville until his retirement in 1985 when his son Dan took over the family business.
Joe had a real passion to share his athletic abilities and coached football at Nativity BVM, Pottsville for several years. He was also known to show up at Railway Park and other fields just to play with the kids and share his skills.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Julia on November 30, 2008 and to whom he was married for 56 years.; son Joseph on June 7, 2013 and brother Clem.
Joseph is survived by a son, Daniel A., husband of Lisa Suender Wapinsky, of Helfenstein, PA brother, Robert "Bob" Wapinsky, of Florida; step grandchildren: Matthew and Justin Bush; step great grandchildren: Rylie and Colin; and several neices and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, April 9th at 11:00a.m. at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, 319 Mahantongo St., Pottsville, PA, with Msgr. Edward J. O'Connor officiating. A viewing will be held at 10:00 a.m. until the time of service in the church.
Interment will be held Tuesday, April 10th at 11:30 a.m. at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. The procession to IGNC will leave Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc, 1818 Mahantongo St., Pottsville at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
The family request contributions in Joe's memory be sent to: Alzheimer's Association Greater Pennsylvania, 2595 Interstate Dr., Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be expressed at lordbixler.com
Gloria F. Zernhelt, 88, of Newtown, passed away on Friday, April 6, 2018 at Providence Place, Pine Grove.
Born on December 6, 1929 in Llewellyn, she was a daughter of the late Michael and Christine Kerick Pellish.
Gloria worked as a Postmistress for the Newtown Post Office. She was the Site Manager for the Tremont Nutrition Center and was well known for her organized bus trips.
She was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Newtown until it closed and then attended Most Blessed Trinity Parish, Tremont.
Preceding her in death were her husband John A. Zernhelt, two grandchildren, Kyle Wessner and Brielle Zernhelt, a sister, Dorothy Ondisco, a brother, Ronald Pellish.
Surviving are a daughter, Patty and husband John Chowansky of Pine Grove; two sons, John and wife Katie Zernhelt of Ferrum, VA, Brian Zernhelt and fiancée Phyllis Azama of Alexandria, VA, 4 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren; two sisters Dolly Wetzel and Pat Dando; a brother, Kerry and wife Julie Pellish.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, April 13, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at Most Blessed Trinity Parish, 113 Cherry St., Tremont, with Father Jason Stokes officiating. There will be a viewing on Friday, April 13, 2018 from 9:30 A.M. -10:30 A.M. at the H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove. Interment will follow in the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to the Hospice of your choice in her memory.
You may send condolences to the family online at our website www.hlsnyderfuneralhome.com
Donald "Donny" F. Cielinski, 47, of Minersville, died Monday at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Muhlenberg following a brief illness.
Born in Pottsville, he was the beloved son of Ann Marie Zelinsky Cielinski, Minersville, and the late Donald J. “Champ” Cielinski. He was a 1989 graduate of Minersville Area High School, and attended Harrisburg Area Community College. He was last employed by Northeast Prestressed Products, Cressona.
He was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Minersville. He enjoyed fishing and archery with his friends.
Surviving in addition to his mother is a daughter, Brandi Cielinski, Minersville; two siblings, Richard Cielinski, Minersville, and Leigh Ann Cielinski, Minersville.
Relatives and friends may call at the Dutcavich Funeral Home, Minersville, on Wednesday from 6:00 A.M. until 9:15 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Michael Church at 10:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, 541 Sunbury Street, Minersville, PA 17954 or to the American Diabetes Association. Interment will be in Mount Peace Cemetery, Branch Township.
Born in Saint Clair, on November 29, 1925, he was a son of the late Mary (Gustitus) and Clayton Wapinsky.
Joe was a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville.
He was a graduate of Saint Clair High School and a three sport varsity player and was considered to be one of St Clairs most gifted athletes. Joe had a dream of playing pro baseball after graduation, but instead he chose to enlist in the U.S. Navy to fight in WWII. After his military service Joe played football for the Pottsville Maroons in 1946. He was finally fortunate enough to achieve his dream of playing professional baseball and played for two years with Oil City, PA Mid Atlantic League. He was pursued and bought by Buffalo, but decided collegiate baseball would be a better choice and chose to play for George Washington College where he also received a business degree.
Joe also loved bowling and became well known for his ability at it, often scoring numerous perfect games. These competitions took him to many states over the years. Not being content with that in his later years, he also fell in love with the game of golf.
For many years he was the owner/operator at Wapinsky Brothers Gulf and Texaco station in Pottsville until his retirement in 1985 when his son Dan took over the family business.
Joe had a real passion to share his athletic abilities and coached football at Nativity BVM, Pottsville for several years. He was also known to show up at Railway Park and other fields just to play with the kids and share his skills.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Julia on November 30, 2008 and to whom he was married for 56 years.; son Joseph on June 7, 2013 and brother Clem.
Joseph is survived by a son, Daniel A., husband of Lisa Suender Wapinsky, of Helfenstein, PA brother, Robert "Bob" Wapinsky, of Florida; step grandchildren: Matthew and Justin Bush; step great grandchildren: Rylie and Colin; and several neices and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, April 9th at 11:00a.m. at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, 319 Mahantongo St., Pottsville, PA, with Msgr. Edward J. O'Connor officiating. A viewing will be held at 10:00 a.m. until the time of service in the church.
Interment will be held Tuesday, April 10th at 11:30 a.m. at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. The procession to IGNC will leave Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc, 1818 Mahantongo St., Pottsville at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
The family request contributions in Joe's memory be sent to: Alzheimer's Association Greater Pennsylvania, 2595 Interstate Dr., Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be expressed at lordbixler.com
-----------------------------------------
Born on December 6, 1929 in Llewellyn, she was a daughter of the late Michael and Christine Kerick Pellish.
Gloria worked as a Postmistress for the Newtown Post Office. She was the Site Manager for the Tremont Nutrition Center and was well known for her organized bus trips.
She was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Newtown until it closed and then attended Most Blessed Trinity Parish, Tremont.
Preceding her in death were her husband John A. Zernhelt, two grandchildren, Kyle Wessner and Brielle Zernhelt, a sister, Dorothy Ondisco, a brother, Ronald Pellish.
Surviving are a daughter, Patty and husband John Chowansky of Pine Grove; two sons, John and wife Katie Zernhelt of Ferrum, VA, Brian Zernhelt and fiancée Phyllis Azama of Alexandria, VA, 4 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren; two sisters Dolly Wetzel and Pat Dando; a brother, Kerry and wife Julie Pellish.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, April 13, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at Most Blessed Trinity Parish, 113 Cherry St., Tremont, with Father Jason Stokes officiating. There will be a viewing on Friday, April 13, 2018 from 9:30 A.M. -10:30 A.M. at the H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove. Interment will follow in the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to the Hospice of your choice in her memory.
You may send condolences to the family online at our website www.hlsnyderfuneralhome.com
-----------------------------------------
Donald "Donny" F. Cielinski, 47, of Minersville, died Monday at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Muhlenberg following a brief illness.
Born in Pottsville, he was the beloved son of Ann Marie Zelinsky Cielinski, Minersville, and the late Donald J. “Champ” Cielinski. He was a 1989 graduate of Minersville Area High School, and attended Harrisburg Area Community College. He was last employed by Northeast Prestressed Products, Cressona.
He was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Minersville. He enjoyed fishing and archery with his friends.
Surviving in addition to his mother is a daughter, Brandi Cielinski, Minersville; two siblings, Richard Cielinski, Minersville, and Leigh Ann Cielinski, Minersville.
Relatives and friends may call at the Dutcavich Funeral Home, Minersville, on Wednesday from 6:00 A.M. until 9:15 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Michael Church at 10:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, 541 Sunbury Street, Minersville, PA 17954 or to the American Diabetes Association. Interment will be in Mount Peace Cemetery, Branch Township.
-----------------------------------------
