Skook News Obituaries: February 6th, 2024
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Born in Coaldale on November 17, 1948, John was a son of the late Charles I. and Elizabeth (Stoker) Fredericks. He was a self-employed contractor. John was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Tamaqua; the Tamaqua Fire Police; and a participant in the unofficial morning Burger King Coffee Club. He would do anything for anybody and could be found serving meals at the Tamaqua Salvation Army.
In addition to his partner, Maryann, John is survived by daughter, Karen Tharp and her husband Blake of New Ringgold; son, John W. Fredericks and his wife Suzanne of Pottsville; 9 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by grandson, Lucas Fredericks and brothers, Lear Stoker, Paul Fredericks, Willis Fredericks, Charles Fredericks, Lawrence Fredericks, and David Fredericks.
Services will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, February 17, at the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home, 500 East Broad Street, Tamaqua with The Rev. Darryl Kensinger officiating. Interment at Sky-View Memorial Park, Hometown will follow services. Call from 9-10 AM, Saturday, at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to The Salvation Army – Tamaqua, 246 East Broad Street, Tamaqua, PA 18252.
Arrangements are being handled by the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Tamaqua.
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Born in Frackville, he was the son of Lorraine (Schally) Chuma, Frackville and the late John Chuma Sr.
A 1967 graduate of North Schuylkill, Chuma attended Lincoln Tech and entered the Army in 1969. John served one year in the Army in Vietnam before developing cancer and spent a year in the Walter Reed Army Hospital. After being discharged in May 1972, Chuma attended Penn State Schuylkill with a degree to teach electronics in vocational schools.
He owned and operated John’s TV repair from 1973-88 and began a second business, Dynamark Security, that he operated from 1979-2006.
While recuperating at home in 1972, Chuma started umpiring games for the Frackville Little League. He began coaching Teener League baseball in 1973 and was still involved in Teener baseball 50 years later, serving as the Frackville head coach and Schuylkill County Teener League president. The Teener League field at Frackville’s Memorial Park was re-named “The John Chuma Teener Field” in 2019.
Chuma also coached six years with the Frackville Little League, coached the Frackville Legion team for three seasons and coached 12 years with the Frackville Biddy Basketball program. In the community, Chuma is a past vice president of Frackville Borough Council and was an officer with the Frackville Biddy Basketball Association, Frackville Midget Football Association, North Schuylkill Football Halftime Club and North Schuylkill baseball.
He is a member of the Frackville Elks, American Legion, Amvets and VFW and is on the Frackville Flag Committee. He is a previous member of the Jaycees, recreational board and Lions Club.
Chuma won his share of championships over the years, guiding Frackville to four Schuylkill County Teener League Senior Division titles (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017), directing Frackville to its first-ever District 24 Little League championship in 1995 and coaching the Frackville Legion team to the Schuylkill Legion League crown and its only trip to the Region 2 Tournament in 1999.
He will always be remembered for his commitment to his family, his compassion toward his players, his ability to mold young players into young men and for teaching his players not only the fundamentals of the game, but valuable life lessons.
John was preceded in death by his father, John Chuma Sr., and his wife Susan L. "Susie" (Hinkle) Chuma in 2001.
In addition to his mother, Lorraine, John is survived by his loving children; John Chuma III and his wife Tanesha, Lititz; Angela Rein and her husband Jason, Rye Brook, NY; Kristopher Chuma, Frackville and Katie (Halko) Chuma; his loving partner and best friend, Tina Honushefsky; his sister, Georgine Fallon; his mother-in-law, Bernice Hinkle; his seven grandchildren: Kris, Elisha, Jaylen, Knox, Joshua, Asher and Alexander; his loving in-laws, nephews and nieces.
Friends are invited to his visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13th at the Frackville Elks Lodge located at 307 S. Third Street, Frackville.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 14th from St. Ann’s Catholic Church located at 49 N. Line Street, Frackville with Rev. Adam C. Sedar as the celebrant. There will be no visitation on Wednesday prior to the service. Interment will be held at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville with military honors on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
Please omit flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Susan Chuma Nursing Scholarship Fund at 439 W. High Street, Frackville, PA 17931 or will be accepted at the visitation.
Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home Inc., Frackville, is in charge of arrangements.
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Born in Pottsville on July 13, 1963, she was the daughter of the late Frances (Tibbetts) and Leo Klare.
Theresa attended Pottsville Area High School and later graduated from Misericordia University with a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing.
She was employed as a Nursing Supervisor for most of her life.
Theresa was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Pottsville.
Theresa was a huge Steven Perry fan who also loved NCIS, bead crafting, and crocheting. She especially loved to bake Christmas cookies and pies.
She is survived by a son, Nate Willard; two daughters, Valerie and Alaina Willard; her dog, Zoey; sisters, Karen Moyer and Mary Purcell; and brother, Richard Klare. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Theresa is preceded in death by a sister, Patty Klare, and nephews, Brandon Moyer and Bradley Klare.
A visitation period for friends and family will be held from 10-11 AM on Monday, February 12 at Geschwindt Stabingas Ebling Funeral Home, Inc., Schuylkill Haven.
Interment will be held privately at the family's convenience.
At the family's request, memorial donations may be forwarded to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516.
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