Skook News Obituaries: September 15th, 2025
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Dean A. Geist, 81, of South Manheim Township passed away peacefully on Saturday at his home.
Born in Pottsville, he was the son of the late Harold H. and Catherine Hughes Geist.
Dean was a 1961 graduate of Pottsville Area High School. He then went on to attend Ford Business School. Dean worked as an accountant for most of his life with the state.
Dean served in the United States National Guard in his younger years.
Dean attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Orwigsburg. He enjoyed playing tennis and golf. Dean also enjoyed bowling when he was younger.
Dean was also an avid Philly sports fan, supporting the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers and 76ers.
He was married to the former Janet Young. Together they recently celebrated 45 years of marriage.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother Brian Geist who passed away in 1977.
In addition to his wife, Janet, Dean is survived by his son Jeffery W. Carter husband to Amanda of Sperry, OK. He is also survived by his stepson Steven W. Mintz of South Manheim Township and stepdaughter Heather Yonosh wife of John of Phoenixville. He is also survived by grandchildren, Zoey C. Carter, Katherine, Sarah, and Kevin Yonosh along with brother Ronald Geist of Schuylkill Haven and nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 11:00 A.M. at Grabowski Funeral Home, Schuylkill Haven. A viewing will be held from 10:00 A.M. until the time of services. Interment will follow on the grounds of Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Deans memory be made to: St. Jude’s Foundation 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN, 38105 or Hillside SPCA, 51 Hillside Road, Pottsville, PA 17910.
Born in Shenandoah on October 31, 1937, he was the son of the late John and Sophie (Swatski) Melnick.
John was a 1955 graduate of the former J.W. Cooper High School in Shenandoah then went on to serve his country in the United States Navy. After the service, John worked many years as a foreman in a machine shop. He had many interests in life some of which included- fishing, golfing, exercising, dancing, playing pool, bowling, boating, and playing cards.
Besides his parents, John was preceded by his brother- Eugene Melnick and his sister- Lorraine Dombrosky.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Rita (Karahuta) Melnick, his son- John J. Melnick with his wife Terri of McKinney, TX, his daughter- Andrea Dudginski with her husband Ed of Duncannon, his sister- Roseanne Abrachinsky of Albrightsville, 4 grandchildren- Ryan, Devin, Ashley, and Caitlin, 3 great grandchildren- Ava, Hudson, and Weston, and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 19th at 11am in the Most Blessed Trinity Church in Tremont and will be officiated by Fr. Johnson. A visitation for family and friends will take place from 10 to 11am in the church. Burial will immediately follow in St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights.
In lieu of flowers, the family would kindly request any donations to be made to Autism Speaks, www.autismspeaks.org
John C. Plaxa, 81, of Auburn, passed away Monday, September 8th, at his residence.
Born in Frackville on May 22, 1944, he was the son of the late Sophie (Klementovich) Boyer and John Plaxa.
John was the widower of Joanne D. (Snokus) Plaxa. The couple shared 53 years happily married before Joanne’s passing in 2020.
He attended George Washington University and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Drexel University.
He was the owner and operator of John’s Leasing.
John was a member of St. John the Baptist Polish National Catholic Church, Frackville. He was also a Freemason and a member of the Elks Lodge & Moose Lodge.
John is survived by a brother, Ronald Plaxa, husband of Marguerite, of Parrish, FL; a sister, Bonnie, wife of Charles Seasock, of Apex, NC; nieces, nephews and many, many friends.
Service details will be announced at a later date.
At the family's request, memorial donations may be forwarded to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or Shriners Children's Hospital, Attn: Shriners Children's Processing Center, PO Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394.
Jean was born in Port Chester, New York, on September 14, 1933, a daughter of the late David and Ellen Brennan MacDonald.
She was a retired licensed practical nurse, working in numerous hospitals throughout her life.
Jean was a devoted Catholic and was an active member of the Most Blessed Trinity Parish, Tremont, where she was a Eucharistic minister, lector, and a member of the Trinity Guild.
She was preceded in death by her husband Nils Jeppson, 2008, and a brother, George MacDonald.
Surviving are her sister, Mary E. McGuire, Connecticut; several nieces nephews. Jean is also survived by her dear friends at Swatara Village, including her caregivers, Tony and Charlene, Betz, along with her church family at Most Blessed Parish.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM from the Most Blessed Trinity Parish, Tremont. Visitation will be from 10:30-11:00 AM at the church. Jean will be laid to rest privately with her husband at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
Memorial donations in her memory can be made to her church, Most Blessed Trinity Parish, 113 Cherry Street, Tremont, PA 17981.
The Dimon Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc, Tower City has been entrusted with her arrangements.
