Skook News Obituaries: July 14th, 2025
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Tom was born in Pottsville to the late Thomas and Louise (Whalen) Shearn. He graduated from the former Cardinal Brennan High School, Fountain Springs.
Tom dedicated his life to community service. He worked as a 911 dispatcher for the Schuylkill County Communication Center for 31 years until his recent retirement. He spent many years serving the Borough of Girardville, as a volunteer with the Girard Hose Company, starting as a firefighter and rising through the ranks before becoming a fire chief. Later, Tom joined the Rangers Hose Co. and continued to serve the Girardville community. His expertise in communications was a very valuable skill as well as his emergency planning knowledge.
Tom is survived by his son TJ Shearn Jr., Orwigsburg and also by aunts, uncles and cousins.
Friends are invited to remember and honor Tom at his visitation on Saturday, July 19th from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home, 403 W. Main Street, Girardville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Thomas “TJ” Shearn, 61 Hemlock Lane Orwigsburg, PA 17961 to help defray funeral costs.
Sign the guestbook, leave personal condolences and for further information, please visit www.thomasmsullivanfuneralhome.com
Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home Inc., Girardville is in charge of the arrangements.
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Betty was born on Thursday, October 20, 1932, in Sheridan, a daughter of the late John and Lillian Miller Wesner.
She was a former member of the Pine Grove Wesleyan Church.
Betty devoted her life to raising her family and enjoyed spending time with them. Playing board games and BINGO was a very big part of her life. She loved BINGO and looked forward to playing every opportunity she had.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Rhoades; a daughter, Winnie Perez; two sons, Freeman and Sidney May; a grandson, Peanut Koppenhaver; three brother, John, Bob and Ivan Wesner; a sister, Mildred Curry.
Surviving are her children, Cathy Ragland, Sandy Koppenhaver, and Greg and Stanley May; two stepchildren Dion Rhoades and Wendy Honig; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.
Betty will be laid to rest privately with her husband in the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
The Dimon Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., is honored to serve Betty's family.
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Deacon was proud of his service in the United States Army. A member of PSU Army ROTC during the Vietnam era, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and ended his career as a Captain. His military assignments included Fort Belvoir, VA, helicopter training at Fort Wolters, TX and Fort Rucker, AL, and with the 101st Airborne Air Assault (1971-1975) at Fort Campbell, KY. Following active military service, Dan was assigned to Pennsylvania National Guard Headquarters Company in Allentown from 1977 to 1984.
Deacon supported his community by serving as a board member for the Lake Hauto Club in the early 1990’s. Committed to the safety of Lake Hauto, he served as an advisor to the Panther Creek Co-Gen. For several years during his career and into retirement, Dan trained as an EMT and served on the Emergency Management Team for Schuylkill County.
He also found time to coach pole vaulting at Marian Catholic High School in the 1990’s and served as assistant leader for Boy Scout Troop #82 Lehighton from 2008 to 2017.
A devout Catholic, Dan served as a lector and eucharistic minister at the Lake Hauto Chapel of the former Sacred Heart Church, Nesquehoning and, later, at Immaculate Conception Church in Jim Thorpe. He was active in local faith-adjacent service organizations including The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Alec Campbell Division, Jim Thorpe, where he was a past officer, the Knights of Columbus, Henry Baker Council, Tamaqua, and the American Legion in Coaldale.
Dan’s love of music compelled his participation in The Bach and Handel Chorale of Jim Thorpe, the church choir at the Immaculate Conception Church, and at Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Lansford. He participated yearly in the county wide Zion Ecumenical Christmas Cantata. From 1989 to 1996, Deacon was a member of the Mauch Chunk Opera House Theater Group where he had numerous leading roles. For someone who claimed that he couldn’t act, sing, dance, or perform on stage, he spent a lot of time sharing his gifts by telling great stories, making up songs for mundane daily activities, and even pulling a jig every time pork chops were served for dinner.
Fishing, boating, and campfires, Penn State Football, and Aces Happy Hours with his dog Boo were among the many ways Deacon enjoyed his 47 years of living at Lake Hauto.
Surviving are his loving wife, Marcia (Smith) Evans of Nesquehoning; two devoted daughters, Kerry Palumbo and her husband Robert of Lehighton, and Coreen Weilminster and her husband Eric of Arnold, MD; one son, Daniel Evans III, of Cinnaminson, NJ; six grandchildren, Dominic Palumbo and his wife Tyra Wentz, Cara Palumbo and her partner Sam Thompson, Brooke and Braedyn Weilminster, and Addison and Daniel Evans; a sister in law, Marianne (Smith) Jones; and several nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews who he loved deeply and who loved him in return. Dan was predeceased by a brother, William Thomas Evans.
The family would like to express a special thank you to the nurses and staff of the LVHC Hospice for the exceptional care and support provided to Dan and his family. Dan and Marcia have also been deeply appreciative of the love, support, generosity, and kindness of friends throughout his illness.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 180 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe with The Rev. Ronald Minner officiating. A private interment will be held at the convenience of the family. Call on Thursday from 9:30 to 11 AM in the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia, or by remembering him with a service at your place of worship. Online condolences may be made at www.zgfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are being handled by the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Tamaqua.
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Geraldine Lutzkanin, 77, of St. Clair passed away Thursday July 3, 2025 at her home.
Born in New Philadelphia, April 11, 1948, She was a daughter of the late Anthony and Helen (Zimerofsky) Paltanavage.
She was a 1966 graduate of St. Clair High School after which she went on to work at St. Clair Garment Factory and Hexcel.
She was of the catholic faith, having last worshiped at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, St. Clair.
Surviving are her husband of David Lutzkanin; son David Lutzkanin Jr. and his wife Elaine Nichols of Rome, PA; daughter Nicole Pechart and her husband Jason of Dalmatia; 2 brothers Vincent Paltanavage and his wife Susan of New Philadelphia; Anthony Paltanavage of Cumbola; 4 grandchildren Kalina Pechart, Kalea Pechart, Eryn Nichols and Jace Nichols. Nieces and Nephews.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday July 19, 2025 in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Clay St. New Philadelphia, PA 17959. Deacon John Matulevich will be officiating. In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hillside SPCA PO Box 233 Pottsville, PA 17901.
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Deacon was proud of his service in the United States Army. A member of PSU Army ROTC during the Vietnam era, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and ended his career as a Captain. His military assignments included Fort Belvoir, VA, helicopter training at Fort Wolters, TX and Fort Rucker, AL, and with the 101st Airborne Air Assault (1971-1975) at Fort Campbell, KY. Following active military service, Dan was assigned to Pennsylvania National Guard Headquarters Company in Allentown from 1977 to 1984.
Deacon supported his community by serving as a board member for the Lake Hauto Club in the early 1990’s. Committed to the safety of Lake Hauto, he served as an advisor to the Panther Creek Co-Gen. For several years during his career and into retirement, Dan trained as an EMT and served on the Emergency Management Team for Schuylkill County.
He also found time to coach pole vaulting at Marian Catholic High School in the 1990’s and served as assistant leader for Boy Scout Troop #82 Lehighton from 2008 to 2017.
A devout Catholic, Dan served as a lector and eucharistic minister at the Lake Hauto Chapel of the former Sacred Heart Church, Nesquehoning and, later, at Immaculate Conception Church in Jim Thorpe. He was active in local faith-adjacent service organizations including The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Alec Campbell Division, Jim Thorpe, where he was a past officer, the Knights of Columbus, Henry Baker Council, Tamaqua, and the American Legion in Coaldale.
Dan’s love of music compelled his participation in The Bach and Handel Chorale of Jim Thorpe, the church choir at the Immaculate Conception Church, and at Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Lansford. He participated yearly in the county wide Zion Ecumenical Christmas Cantata. From 1989 to 1996, Deacon was a member of the Mauch Chunk Opera House Theater Group where he had numerous leading roles. For someone who claimed that he couldn’t act, sing, dance, or perform on stage, he spent a lot of time sharing his gifts by telling great stories, making up songs for mundane daily activities, and even pulling a jig every time pork chops were served for dinner.
Fishing, boating, and campfires, Penn State Football, and Aces Happy Hours with his dog Boo were among the many ways Deacon enjoyed his 47 years of living at Lake Hauto.
Surviving are his loving wife, Marcia (Smith) Evans of Nesquehoning; two devoted daughters, Kerry Palumbo and her husband Robert of Lehighton, and Coreen Weilminster and her husband Eric of Arnold, MD; one son, Daniel Evans III, of Cinnaminson, NJ; six grandchildren, Dominic Palumbo and his wife Tyra Wentz, Cara Palumbo and her partner Sam Thompson, Brooke and Braedyn Weilminster, and Addison and Daniel Evans; a sister in law, Marianne (Smith) Jones; and several nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews who he loved deeply and who loved him in return. Dan was predeceased by a brother, William Thomas Evans.
The family would like to express a special thank you to the nurses and staff of the LVHC Hospice for the exceptional care and support provided to Dan and his family. Dan and Marcia have also been deeply appreciative of the love, support, generosity, and kindness of friends throughout his illness.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 180 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe with The Rev. Ronald Minner officiating. A private interment will be held at the convenience of the family. Call on Thursday from 9:30 to 11 AM in the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia, or by remembering him with a service at your place of worship. Online condolences may be made at www.zgfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are being handled by the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Tamaqua.
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These obituaries are being brought to by Mark J. Hummel Funeral Home, Frackville
