Skook News Obituaries: October 26th, 2025
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Leanne Marie Hall, 41, of Shenandoah, passed away Friday evening, October 24th, 2025 surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Pottsville on September 28, 1984, she was a daughter of Karen (Buchanan) and Leo Kayes, both of Shenandoah. A 2002 graduate of the Shenandoah Valley High School, she was also a 2006 graduate of Wilkes University. She was a member of the Divine Mercy Parish, a member of the former St. Casimir's Church.
Leanne was a 4th grade special education teacher for the Mahanoy Area School district for 20 years. She took a special interest and was active in fundraising activities for her school. She also coached girls high school volleyball for Shenandoah Valley for over 10 years. Leanne enjoyed coaching her children in Shenandoah Little League and soccer with the Shenandoah Youth Soccer Association. She enjoyed playing volleyball in the Mahanoy Area Women’s Volleyball League with many friends. Leanne was a member of the Arrowhead Rod and Gun Club, and was active with fundraising with both the Polish American and Rescue Hook and Ladder Fire Companies.
Leanne loved to entertain friends and family at her home for any occasion. She could be found every summer with her toes in the sand at her favorite beaches. Her favorite holiday was Christmas, where she picked the fattest tree for her household. Leanne loved to bake and cook, her Wigilia seafood dishes were second to none. Leanne’s baking and world famous flitch would make anyone feel welcome.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Veronica and Leo Kayes; and by her maternal grandparents, Patricia (Buchanan) Maloney and Robert Buchanan and Frank Maloney.
Leanne is survived by her husband of 11 years, Joseph Hall, along with their children, Veronica, Joey and Wyatt and her beloved dog, Lilly. She is also survived by a sister, Melissa, wife of Mark Mikita; and a brother, Leo Kayes II, and his fiancee, Corine, all of Shenandoah.
Nieces, Meredith Mikita, Marlena Mikita and, Lux Budwash and Nephew Tripp Budwash, along with Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and many friends, whom she called her village, also survive.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, October 30th, 2025 at 10 AM at the Divine Mercy Church, West Cherry Street, Shenandoah.
A Viewing will be held Wednesday from 4-8 PM at the Walukiewicz Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 South Jardin Street, Shenandoah, and again on Thursday morning from 8:30 AM until the time of the mass at the church.
Leanne will be laid to rest in St. Casimir's Cemetery, immediately following the Mass on Thursday.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Leanne will be accepted at the funeral home for the benefit of the PA State Troopers Association - Troopers Helping Troopers Foundation.
Shamokin Hospital, Shamokin, PA.
He was born in Pitman, the youngest child of William Franklin and Sarah (Snyder)
Hepler.
Known to many as "Bushty", he was a graduate of Hegins Township High School, Class
of 1949.
He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict, attaining the rank of Sr Air
Traffic Controller, as a Radar Repairman.
Following the service, Franklin was an engineer for Bell Telephone, later known as
ATand;T. He lived in Wayne, Pa and then Oakton, VA during his working career, retiring in
1991. He moved back to Pitman after retiring from ATandT.
Franklin had many hobbies during retirement: gardening, specializing in producing large
tomatoes and giant dahlias which he shared with friends and neighbors, mowing his
large lawn, hunting, smoking his pipe, taking long naps while watching anything that
was on any of the sports channels. Franklin enjoyed hunting for small game, turkey,
deer, and bear as well as participating in several big game hunts, with many mounted
species on display in his home.
For the past several years, Franklin looked forward to a weekly Thursday outing to the
Hamburg area for "shrimp" and Chinese Buffet with a loyal friend Ron "Chico" Masser.
He was a lifetime member of the NRA, the Mahantongo Fire Company and the Hepler
Reunion Association. For the past several years Franklin was recognized as the Oldest
Attending Male at the annual Hepler Reunion.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Genevieve Kasprzak in 2005; brothers Jesse,
Irvin, Raymond and Peter; sisters Martha Stehr and Betty Finney.
He is survived by a stepdaughter Susan Danielwicz, of Oakton, Virginia, sister Ruth
Brock, of South Carolina and 14 Hepler nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at Zion EC Church on Friday, October 31. Viewing will begin at 10
am with service at 11am, with Pastor Todd Wolfe officiating. Burial will be in Zion
Cemetery, Pitman.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Hepler Reunion Association or the
Mahantongo Valley Ambulance Association.
Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Inc., Valley View, PA is in charge of arrangements.
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Born on December 13, 1954 in Tower City, she was a daughter of the late Walter and Annie Neidlinger Reinoehl.
She was a graduate of Williams Valley High School.
Rose worked for Guilford Mills in Pine Grove.
She was a member of Salem Hetzel's UCC, Pine Grove Senior Citizens and the Rock Fish & Game Association.
Rose enjoyed gardening, baking, and taking daily walks and spending time outdoors with her husband. But her greatest joy was her granddaughters who were the light of her life. She treasured every moment with them doing the things they loved the most.
Preceding her in death was a brother, Darryl "Shorty" Reinoehl.
Surviving are her husband of 51 years, Richard Krause; a son, Richard Krause II of Schuylkill Haven; a daughter, Jennifer and husband Roger Heming of Pine Grove; two granddaughters, Kamryn and Ella Heming; a brother, Harry Neidlinger of Arizona; two nephews, Craig Krause, Jr. and Zach Reinoehl.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 1:30 P.M. at Salem Hetzel's UCC, 261 Hetzel's Church Rd., Pine Grove, with Rev. Paul Cronin officiating. There will be a visitation on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 from 12:30 P.M. until 1:30 P.M. at the Church. Interment will follow in Salem Hetzel's Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to Salem Hetzel's UCC Memorial Fund, 261 Hetzel's Church Rd., Pine Grove, PA 17963 in her memory.
The H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove is in charge of arrangements.
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Doris Leymeister, 81, of MarLin, passed away on Saturday, October 25, at Providence Place, Pottsville.
She was born in Pottsville, PA on May 20, 1944, a daughter of the late Dominick and Helen (Lipskey) Caravan.
Doris was a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville. She was a devoted foster parent for over 30 years, providing love, guidance, and a safe home to many children throughout her life. She enjoyed spending her free time bowling, playing Bingo, and traveling—especially on trips shared with her sister and family. Doris cherished every moment with her grandchildren, who brought her immense joy and pride. Her kindness, generosity, and caring spirit touched the lives of all who knew her.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Harvey Leymeister, and a son, Joshua, and two brothers, Gary and Edward Caravan and his wife, Mary Rita.
Surviving are her four sons Michael Leymeister and his wife, Deborah, Pottsville, Craig Leymeister, Marlin, Kevin Leymeister, Georgia, Jason Leymeister and his wife, Dae, North Carolina, a daughter Mandy Donatti and her husband, Matthew, Pottsville, and 13 grandchildren, David, Amy, Miranda, Brandon, AJ, Nicholas, Brittany, Dominic, Ava, Charlotte, Cadyn, Matthew, Gabriel, 5 great grandchildren, a sister Joanne O’Toole and her husband, Michael, a brother Thomas Caravan.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on November 3rd, at 11:00 AM in St. Patrick Church, 319 Mahantongo Street, Pottsville with Father Richard Clement with Interment to follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Hillside.
Friends may call from 9:30 AM till the time of the Mass at the church.
Donations may be made to St. Patrick Church, 319 Mahantongo Street, Pottsville.
Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
