Skook News Obituaries: December 22nd, 2020
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Born June 30, 1927 in Allentown to Russell & Jean (Treby) Meyers.
She graduated from Emmaus High School in 1945. Upon graduation she moved to Auburn where she helped her mother operate the switchboard for the local telephone exchange. She married Ralph (Mush) Wessner on July 1, 1950 and celebrated 64 years of marriage before his death in 2015.
She was a member of Grace Free Church, Cressona and former member of St. Johns Reformed Church, Auburn. She retired in 1989 from Craftex Mills in Auburn. Lois and her husband traveled up and down the east coast attending many field trials with their beagles. Lois loved to read and was an avid bird lover.
Besides her husband she was preceded in death by her daughter Leslie Schoffstall, grandson Brent Schoffstall and her brother Donald Meyers.
Surviving are three sons, Ronald (Gloria) Wessner Auburn, Craig (Valerie) Wessner Auburn, Joel (Elsie) Wessner Derry NH, 8 Grandchildren, 12 Great Grandchildren, 3 Great Great Grandchildren.
Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, services and interment will be held privately.
At the family's request, memorial donations may be forwarded to Grace Evangelical Free Church 101 Graeff Street Cressona, 17929.
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Born in Pottsville on May 15, 1940, she was a daughter of the late John J. & Mary E. (Lynch) Smith.
Maureen was a graduate of Nativity BVM High School, and was a former member of Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church, both in Pottsville.
Maureen was a graduate of Nativity BVM High School, and was a former member of Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church, both in Pottsville.
She was a homemaker most of her life, and later worked as a retail clerk.
In addition to her parents, Maureen is also preceded in death by her brother John Smith, children: Maureen Benyaker, and Beth Kuvlesky, and son-in-law James Harrington, Sr.
She is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Harrington, of Bethlehem, PA; four grandchildren: James Harrington, Jr. & wife, Amy, Courtney Harrington & wife, Kendra, Victor Kuvlesky & wife, Megan, and Adam Kuvlesky, great-grandchildren: Aeris, Willow, & Parker Harrington, two sisters: Eileen, wife of Robert Lutz, and Alice, wife of Daniel Stemcosky, and nieces & nephews, including Sandra Choman.
At the family's request, memorial donations in Maureen's memory may be forwarded to Hillside SPCA, P O Box 233, Pottsville, PA 17901.
Private interment services will be conducted at Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville, at the family's convenience.
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Samuel Heintzelman, 60, of Schuylkill Haven, passed away on Sunday evening at Geisinger St. Lukes, Orwigsburg.
Born in Allentown on May 16, 1960, he was a son of the late Clyde Heintzelman and Pauline (Gower) Moyer.
Sam was a client and resident of the RedCo Group and worked at the Avenues for several years.
He was an avid Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets fan.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by sisters: Phyllis Gower, Betty Heintzelman, and Diane Connors.
He is survived by siblings: Elaine Evans and Tillie Bayton, of East Stroudsburg; Raymond Gower and Marlene Hallor, of Pottsville; Anna Marie Wilhelm, of Pine Grove; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, December 26th at 1pm at Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc., 1818 Mahantongo St., Pottsville, with Deacon Larry Lonergan officiating. A visitation will be held at 12 noon until time of service in the funeral home.
Interment in Jerusalem Lutheran Cemetery, Troxville, will be private at the convenience of the family.
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
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Born on May 4, 1918 in Rock, she was a daughter of the late John and Gertrude Christ Hardenstine.
She was a member of the last graduating class of the Stanhope School..
Thelma was a life long Lutheran and was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church where she had been a Sunday School Teacher and a member of the Willing Workers. She was a life member of the VFW Post 3432 Auxiliary and assisted her husband in community events of the Pine Grove Lions Club. She also belonged to the Pine Grove Senior Citizens Organization.
For many years, she worked as a folder and presser at various factories including Van Heusen, Canoe and Summit Station Manufacturing from which she retired.
She enjoyed crocheting and quilting. Prior to Seton Manor, she was a 10 year resident of Schoolyard Square, Pine Grove where she participated in many activities.
Preceding her in death were her husband of 57 years, Paul W.W. Lengel, a son Edward Lengel, 3 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren; three brothers, Howard, Charles and George Hardenstine and a sister Ruth Derfler.
Surviving are a daughter, Connie M. Aungst; 6 sons, Paul and wife Carol Lengel, Howard and wife Shirley Lengel, Kenneth and wife Susan Lengel, Larry Lengel, Gerald and wife Carolyn Lengel, and Richard Lengel; 19 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and 26 great great grandchildren.
All Services will be held at the convenience of the family with Rev. Brian Beissel officiating. Interment will be in Hetzel's Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to either St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 312 S. Tulpehocken St. Pine Grove, Pa. 17963 or the Benevolent Fund for Stoneridge, c/o Schoolyard Square, 11 High St. Pine Grove, Pa. 17963 in her memory.
The H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove is in charge of arrangements and you may send condolences online at www.hlsnyderfuneralhome.com
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Terry G. Ritzman, Sr., 75, of Suedberg Rd., Pine Grove, passed away on Monday, December 21, 2020 at home.
Born on June 5, 1945 in Tremont, he was a son of the late Arthur and Mary Carl Ritzman.
He was a 1963 graduate of Tremont High School and a member of Jacob's Lutheran Church, Pine Grove.
Terry was a textile worker for Guilford Mills, Pine Grove.
He was past president of Suedberg Fire Co. and fire police chief for many years.
Preceding him in death was a sister Dawn Kimmel.
Surviving are his wife of 56 years Sue Rutter Ritzman; two sons, Michael Ritzman of Pine Grove, Terry G. Ritzman, Jr. and his husband Paul Huynh of Woodland, CA; a daughter Patti and husband John Moyer Jr. of Pine Grove; two grandsons, John Moyer, III of Pine Grove and Nathan Huynh of Pittsburgh, CA; a granddaughter Jaelyn Moyer of Pine Grove; four brothers, John and wife Carole Wagner of Mount Joy, Arthur and wife Maria Ritzman of Cleona, Carl Ritzman of Blandon and Claude and wife Carol Ritzman of Pine Grove.
All Services will be held at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to Jacob's Lutheran Church, c/o Susan Seavey, 114 School St. Pine Grove, Pa. 17963 in his memory.
The H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove is in charge of arrangements and you may send condolences online at www.hlnsyderfuneralhome.com
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Born on February 16, 1932 in Ebervale, she was the daughter of the late John and Terezia Faczak Zipovsky. Prior to retiring, Anna worked for the Blue Mountain School District as a cafeteria employee for over 20 years.
She was a former member of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Minersville, and a current member of Holy Cross Parish, New Philadelphia.
Anna enjoyed spending as much time as she could with her family and her puppy, Rosco. Her greatest joy was her grandchildren and her great grandson Dawson. Family was everything to her. She was known to all her daughter’s friends as “Mom” and she loved each and every one of them,
She was preceded in death in 2004 by her husband of 46 years, John Timtishin, whom she met at Lakewood Ballroom while polka dancing. The last of her siblings, she was also preceded in death by two brothers, John Zipovsky and Joseph Zipovsky, a sister, Mary Dinko.
She is survived by her children, Theresa Shewokis (spouse, Robert), New Philadelphia, and Michael Timtishin (spouse, Connie), Gambrills, Maryland, two grandsons, Michael Timtishin, Monroe, North Carolina, and Daniel Timtishin (spouse, Ellen), Glen Burnie, Maryland.; and her great grandson, Dawson Timtishin. She is also survived by 2 very special people her honorary son, Paul Auman, Hamburg and her honorary grandson, Zachary Navitsky, New Philadelphia: nieces and nephews.
The family will accept visitors at Dutcavich Funeral Home, 200 Sunbury Street, Minersville, on Tuesday from 8:00 A.M. Visitation will end promptly at 11:00 A.M. when procession will form. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Noon in Holy Cross Church, 99 N. Valley Street, New Philadelphia. Visitors and attendees are expected to follow CDC guidelines. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, New Philadelphia. The family prefers donations to Holy Cross Church.
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Harry R. Spangler, 84, of Llewellyn, Branch Township, passed away on Sunday at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Schuylkill – East.
Born in Llewellyn, he was a son of the late Herbert A. Spangler, Sr. and the late Mary Beach Spangler. He was a 1954 graduate of Minersville High School after attending Branch Township schools. He later studied electronics technology at the former Williamsport Technical Institute, now the Pennsylvania College of Technology. He was later employed by Sears in both Pottsville and Frackville.
He was an Air Force veteran of the Korean War.
He was a member of Frieden’s Lutheran Church, Stein’s Mill, Branch Township.
Harry was preceded in death by six siblings, Herbert Spangler, Jr, Jean Spangler, Karlyn Allar, John Spangler, David Spangler and Robert Spangler.
He is survived by his brother, James Spangler (spouse, Audrey), West West Terrace, Branch Township; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are incomplete.
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Richard S. Kemmerling, 81, of Frackville, passed away Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at Broad Mountain Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Born in Wisconsin, November 11, 1939, a son of the late Herman and Mary Coppolella Kemmerling.
Richard was a United States Air Force Veteran.
Richard was a very devout Catholic.
He is survived by three daughters, Brenda M. Hart and her husband James; Lisa DeVenuto and Traci Neary and her husband John. 4 Grandsons, Michael Gillie and his wife Caitlyn; Joseph DeVenuto, Finnegan Neary and Seamus Neary. 4 granddaughters; Jamilyn Corpes, Madison DeVenuto, Devynne DeVenuto and Ciara Neary, a great grandson, Joseph Gillie and a brother, Gary Kemmerling and his wife Lana.
He was predeceased by a brother Herman.
Services will be announced in the near future with burial in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. The Dimon Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., has been entrusted with the arrangements. To send condolences to the family please visit www.dimonfuneralhome.com
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Russell was preceded in death by his birth parents Earl and Hulda (Deiter) Mayer; the parents who raised him William and Edna (Harner) Schade; and the beloved Harner family, Mildred, Allen, Irene, Clayton, and Grandparents Harvey and Clara; his wife Elda (Bixler) Schade; his sisters Sylvia Stutzman, Corrine Wolfgang, and Gloria Stoudt; half sister Mary Stehr; brother Earl Mayer Jr.; and a step brother Robert Mayer.
He is survived by his three children, April Lucas (partner George Koscianski) of Endwell, NY, Russell A Schade (Amy), Birdsboro, and Virginia Murray (Jack), St. Clair, his grandchildren D. Matthew Lucas, Michael Lucas, Kim Lucas, Megan Pugh, Kami Barr, Margeaux Gray, Genevieve Schade; his 8 great grandchildren; two half sisters Violet Harris and Joyce Wolfe; many nieces and nephews and his loving and caring companion Alice Snyder.
Russell attended the former Hegins Township High School. He married the late Elda (Bixler) Schade and they owned and operated Russell Schade Plumbing and Heating in Valley View where the business served many people in the Hegins Valley and surrounding areas. A regular quote from Russell was "I can fix it!" He was a master of all trades!
In his younger days "Russ" loved to ride motor scooters with his buddies. He and Elda traveled much of our country with their camper and dear friends, finally parking it at the Juniata River site, where they enjoyed time with friends and family and relaxed from the stress of their business. He loved taking his snowmobiles to the Harner farm and watching his kids and grandkids drive them with lots of vigor! In his later years he and Alice enjoyed eating out and visiting friends, Alice's farm and family, family picnics and holidays at Ginny's, and trips to Atlanta and Dallas.
He was a member and Past Master of FandAM Valley Lodge 797 Valley View and the Royal Arch Chapter of Valley Lodge; Valley View Fire Company, and the Hegins Ambulance Association. He was a former member of the Harrisburg Consistory, Rajah Shrine of Reading, Zembo Shrine of Harrisburg, and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Millersburg Forest 125.
As a member of St. Andrews United Methodist Church, Valley View, he sang in the Chancel Choir and the Men's Chorus. He served as the church custodian and caretaker of the cemetery for many years.
Russell was a giving and caring man who loved his family and would do anything for them. No amount of time, effort or sacrifice was too much for him to give. He will always be missed and forever loved.
Our sincere thanks to the staff of the Connections Unit of the Pottsville Providence Place for their amazing care and love for Russell and his family.
Funeral services will be held at St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, Valley View, on Thursday, December 31, 2020, at 12:00 pm, with Rev. Duane Bardo and Rev. Jack Murray officiating.
Masonic services will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the church.
A viewing will be held from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Burial will be made in St. Andrew's Cemetery, Valley View.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 221, Valley View, PA 17983.
Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Valley View, is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences can be left for the family at www.buffingtonreed.com.
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