Friday, January 19, 2024

Schuylkill County Obituaries for January 19th, 2024

                                        

Skook News Obituaries: January 19th, 2024

Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area. 

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Dennis Wiessner
, 76, of Mahanoy City, PA, passed away Wednesday, January 17th, at St. Luke’s Allentown.

Dennis was born in Allentown, PA on August 1, 1947, a son of the late Gisella (Soldridge) and Raymond Wiessner.

He had graduated from Central Catholic High School, Allentown.

Dennis served in the U.S. Navy in the Vietnam War.

Dennis first worked for A&B Meats Allentown, the City of Allentown Dept. of Public Works, US Dept. of Agriculture as a meat inspector, Temperanceville VA, Brad Reagan Delano, He then opened an Antique Store in St. Clair.

He served as Mayor for Mahanoy City from 2018 to 2021.

He belonged to the American Legion Post 74 Mahanoy City, and the Park Crest Fish and Game.

Dennis is survived by his long-time companion Karen Delman and four sons; Dennis, of Tennessee; Daniel, husband of Lucy, of Northampton Timothy, husband of Kim, of Alaska; Benjamin, of Mahanoy City. He is also survived by 8 Grandchildren Gabriel, Dennis III, Mary, Johann, Teague, Lucian, Colton, Charlie.

Services will be private at the convenience of the family.

Louis D. Truskowsky Funeral Home & Crematory Inc. Mahanoy City is in charge of arrangements. Visit www.truskowskyfuneralhome.com to sign the guest book, view the tribute video and send sympathy cards.

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John J. Minishak
, 86, of Orwigsburg passed away Tuesday, January 16th, at Seton Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

John was born in Mount Carmel, PA on December 24, 1937, a son of the late Frank and Catherine (Grybosh) Minishak.

He was the loving husband of Germaine F. (Deklinski) Minishak, his wife of 62 years.

John was a 1955 graduate of Mount Carmel High School where he participated in wrestling, football, and track. He excelled at throwing the javelin and held a state conference record for 19 years. After high school, he enlisted and served honorably in the U.S. Navy, stationed at the Little Creek, VA, Amphibious Base from where he saw service time in the Mediterranean Sea. Upon discharge, he soon entered the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, Hershey, and graduated from there in 1961. He served the Commonwealth for 30 years as a State Trooper in a variety of roles across central and eastern Pennsylvania, predominantly in Schuylkill County. Among his professional accolades was a Letter of Commendation for exemplary performance, which he received two years from retirement, for subduing a combative assailant armed with five loaded weapons at the Cressona Mall.

He earned an Associate Degree in Community Services from Pennsylvania State University, Schuylkill Campus, in 1977 and achieved additional certificates in Administration of Justice, and in Law Enforcement and Corrections.

Upon retirement, he spent several years as a security transport courier for Boyer’s Food Markets. He also occasionally engaged in freelance security details; a highlight was an assignment as a personal bodyguard to Mother Teresa during her June 1995 visit to Mahanoy City, PA. He was a physical fitness enthusiast and was a fixture for many years at the Blue Mountain Middle School swimming pool and Schuylkill Racquet Club & Fitness Center.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by seven siblings. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Frank Minishak, (spouse, Cecilia), Green Brook, NJ; a daughter, Debra Ann Minchhoff, (spouse Christopher), Tamaqua, PA; five grandchildren, Jack and Alek Minishak, and Matthew, Michael, and Carly Minchhoff; and seven nieces and nephews.

He was a parishioner of St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church, Schuylkill Haven, for over 55 years. He was an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police and the Retired State Police Association. Additionally, he was a life member of the American Legion and VFW. He was proud of his Polish heritage, loyal to his friends and much beloved by his family for his gruff exterior, soft heart, good humor, great judgement, and kind devotion.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 23rd at St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church in Schuylkill Haven with Rev. Msgr. Edward S. Zemanik as the celebrant. Mass will be preceded by visitation for family and friends in the church’s Daily Mass Chapel from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Interment with military honors will follow at St. Ambrose Cemetery and Mausoleum, Schuylkill Haven.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in John’s name can be made to Troopers Helping Troopers (troopershelpingtroopers.org) or to St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church (stambrosehaven.com) in Schuylkill Haven. Hamilton-Breiner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., Orwigsburg, has been entrusted with arrangements.

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Doris June Cooper
, 89, of Wynonah Dr., Auburn, passed away on Friday, January 12, 2024 at home.

Born on December 1, 1934 in Lebanon, she was the second daughter of eight children born to the late James E. and Deborah M. Witters Harman of Bethel, Berks Co.

Doris married Richard Eugene Cooper Sr. of Ephrata in 1952 and they had seven children. They were married some 55 years before his passing in 2008.

She was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Pottsville.

Doris was a loving, compassionate and caring person. Closest to her heart was her love for her god Jehovah, which she instilled in her children by the loving example that she set in every aspect of her life.

Preceding her in death, in addition to her husband; were two sons, Richard E. Cooper, Jr. and Stephan E. Cooper; a daughter Deborah M. Cooper; a brother, James Harman; and a sister Mary Hufford.

Surviving are a son, Jonathan and wife Susan Cooper of Auburn; three daughters, Priscilla and husband David Igou of Lancaster, Elizabeth and husband Phillip Lower of Jonestown, Abigail and husband Neal Williard of Elizabethville; 8 grandchildren, Daniel Igou, Stephanie Kenyon, Bethany Wagner, Christopher Cooper, Jordan Cooper, Chase Cooper, Austin Williard, and Allison Williard; 7 great grandchildren; two brothers, William Harman of Reading, Kenneth Harman of Bethel; three sisters, Shirley Kinka of Downingtown, Paulette Shifflet of Red Lion, Barbara Harman of Lebanon; nieces and nephews.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 2:00 P.M. at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses, 2653 Woodglen Rd., Pottsville. Anyone wishing to zoom the service, may contact Kingdom Hall in Pottsville for the information. Interment will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville at the convenience of the family.

The H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove is in charge of arrangements.

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Lenore Davies
, 66, of Walnut Street, Ashland, passed away Thursday, January 18, 2024, at her residence. 

The Richard W. Fritz Funeral Home, Ashland, will announce funeral arrangements.








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Chad A. Schulze
, 45, of Lebanon County, former Ashland and Lavelle resident, passed away January 13, 2024, at his residence. 

Born in Lebanon, He is the son of Sandy Jo Roemer, and the late Craig Schulze. He was a graduate of North Lebanon High School, class of 1996. Chad furthered his education at Millersville University, earning a degree in criminal justice. His passion in life was golf. At Millersville University he was the first golfer to be placed in the Millersville University Hall of Fame for his golf records, winning the 2000 PSAC Championship at the Bent Creek Country Club in Lancaster. He went on to be a Professional Golf Instructor at the Greystone Golf Course in Baltimore Maryland. Chad was a member of Mount Lebanon Lodge #226 F. & A. M., and the Field and Stream Association of Lebanon County.

Survivors in addition to his mother:
Sister: Stephanie wife of Keith Sutton, Manchester
Step Father: Larry Farrone, Lavelle
Many, Many friends

Relatives and friends are invited to a attend a Celebration of Chad’s Life, Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at 7 PM, in the Richard W. Fritz Funeral Home, 1323 Centre St., Ashland. Officiating will be Rev. Jeremy Smallwood, pastor of the Lavelle Church of the Nazarene, Lavelle. 

 Masonic memorial service will be held at 6:45 PM. Visitation in the funeral home will begin at 5 PM until service.

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