Skook News Obituaries: February 3rd, 2026
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Yoshie was born in Kyushu, Japan on January 9, 1953, a daughter of the late Shigeyoshi Sakai & Tomoko (Shiki) Sakai.
Married nearly 25 years, Yoshie was the loving wife of Thomas J. Shevokis.
She was a bookkeeper for an oil company, as well as Fessler’s Knitting Mill, & Alpha Mills, retiring as a picker in 2017.
Yoshie loved the New York Yankees and traveling; especially to her favorite place, the beach. She also enjoyed relaxing at the casino.
In addition to her husband, she is also survived by two sons: William Ruff, New Philadelphia, & Luke Ruff, Orwigsburg, her grandson, Roman Ruff, Schuylkill Haven, and her sister, Miyako Sakai, Yamanashi, Japan.
Family & friends are invited to attend a Memorial Visitation from 2-4 PM on Sunday, February 8th at Haus Bartashus Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., New Philadelphia.
The family prefers remembrances in the form of contributions in Yoshie’s name to Red Creek Wildlife Center, Red Creek Wildlife Center, Inc., 300 Moonhill Dr., Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972.
Haus Bartashus Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., New Philadelphia has been entrusted with arrangements.
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Jim was born in Pottsville on December 18, 1944, a son of the late Jean (Jack) Quandel and James W. Quandel, Sr.
Jim graduated from Minersville Area High School in 1962.
He served in the U.S. Army for six years and was honorably discharged in 1971.
As a young man, Jim was a member of the United Methodist Church of Minersville and converted to the Catholic faith in 1977.
Jim was a member of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Minersville.
He was the President of James W. Quandel & Sons, Inc. since 1990 and has been involved in the business his entire life.
Jim was a Free & Accepted Mason, and belonged to Ready Mixed Concrete Association, ATA Trap Association, & The Corvette Club. He served as Vice President, Treasurer, and Board Member for PA Aggregates & Concrete Association (PACA). Devoted to the community he loved, Jim made many contributions to the Greater Minersville Area and was a member of Minersville Lions Club, & Minersville Rotary Club. He was a lifetime member of Seltzer Gun Club, Minersville Fish & Game, Minersville Fire & Rescue and he served on the Board of Directors of First National Bank of Minersville.
Jim is survived by two children: Jeff Quandel, husband of Sherri, Pottsville, & Jennifer Quandel, Florida, his granddaughter, Dr. Alexis Padelsky, New Jersey, two siblings: Charles Quandel, husband of Susan, Chicago, & Bonnie Rowlands, wife of Ronald, Pottsville, nieces and nephews, and his beloved feline companion, Boots.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM on Saturday, February 7th at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Minersville. A Viewing will be held at the church from 9 AM until the time of Mass.
Interment will follow at Mount Peace Cemetery, Minersville.
At the family’s request, memorial donations in Jim’s name may be forwarded to Hillside SPCA, PO Box 233 Pottsville, PA 17901.
Lord Ebling Haus Funeral Home & Crematory, Pottsville, has been entrusted with arrangements.
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Joseph T. Whitaker Jr., 73, of Mahanoy City, passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at St. Luke’s Carbon Campus – Lehighton.
Born in Shenandoah on November 19, 1952, he was the son of the late Joseph T. and Mary B. (Strause) Whitaker.
Joseph was a 1971 graduate of Mahanoy Area High School and then Villanova University in 1975 where he graduated cum laude.
He was employed for 25 years as a special agent with the United States Secret Service. His assignments in Washington D.C. included the Presidential Protective Division during the Carter and Reagan administrations. He retired as the resident agent in Scranton, Pa.
Upon retirement, he was employed by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, as a special agent criminal investigator. He was employed for a total of 43 years in federal law enforcement.
Besides his parents, Joseph was preceded by his wife, Barbara Kosik Whitaker and his sister, Kathleen Daniels.
He is survived by his sister, Ashie Parker of Barnesville along with several cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 6th at 11am in St. Teresa of Calcutta Church, Mahanoy City and will be celebrated by Fr. Kevin Gallagher. Visitation will be held prior to Mass from 10 to 11am in the church. Burial will be at the convenience of the family at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Joseph’s memory may be made to either: St. Teresa of Calcutta Church or the Mahanoy City Public Library.
Oravitz Home for Funerals Inc, Shenandoah are entrusted with the arrangements with the assistance of James Haughney Jr.
Faith J. Klinger, 80, of W. Laurel St., Tremont, passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at home surrounded by her family.
Born on November 21, 1945 in Philadelphia, she was a daughter of the late Verlon Bill and Marguerite Zimmerman Dunn.
She was a member of St. Peter's UCC, Tremont.
Faith was a CNA and worked at the Tremont Health & Rehab Center. She also delivered the merchandiser with her sister-in-law, Sandy Eisenhauer.
She enjoyed reading, puzzles, watching movies, gardening, and taking care of her family. She was a huge Penn State Football Fan.
Preceding her in death were her first husband, Thomas Piaskowski and an infant daughter, Christine Piaskowski.
Surviving are her husband of 59 years, Edwin W. Klinger, Sr.; two sons, Thomas and wife Ruth Piaskowski of Deer Lake, Edwin Klinger, Jr. of Tremont; four daughters, Michelle and husband Eric Bressler of Bethel, Cassandra and husband Bruce Renninger, Catherine and husband Jamie Brown, Janette and husband Kevin Harris, all of Tremont; 11 grandchildren, Thomas and wife Jamie Piaskowski, Ronald Piaskowski, Jenna and husband Brandon Bretz, Robert Bressler, Angela and wife Amanda Orzalek, Kenneth Reiner and fiance' Andrea, Gabrielle Brown, Hayden Brown, Hailey Klinger, Gavin Harris and Sophie Harris; 7 great grandchildren; three brothers, Ronald and wife MaryAnn Dunn of Pottsville, Rick and wife Carol Dunn of Colorado, Randy and wife Beth Dunn of California; nieces and nephews.
Graveside Services will be held at a later date in the German Reformed Cemetery, Tremont.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer if you would plant a tree in her memory.
The H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove, is in charge of arrangements
Joseph T. Whitaker Jr., 73, of Mahanoy City, passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at St. Luke’s Carbon Campus – Lehighton.
Born in Shenandoah on November 19, 1952, he was the son of the late Joseph T. and Mary B. (Strause) Whitaker.
Joseph was a 1971 graduate of Mahanoy Area High School and then Villanova University in 1975 where he graduated cum laude.
He was employed for 25 years as a special agent with the United States Secret Service. His assignments in Washington D.C. included the Presidential Protective Division during the Carter and Reagan administrations. He retired as the resident agent in Scranton, Pa.
Upon retirement, he was employed by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, as a special agent criminal investigator. He was employed for a total of 43 years in federal law enforcement.
Besides his parents, Joseph was preceded by his wife, Barbara Kosik Whitaker and his sister, Kathleen Daniels.
He is survived by his sister, Ashie Parker of Barnesville along with several cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 6th at 11am in St. Teresa of Calcutta Church, Mahanoy City and will be celebrated by Fr. Kevin Gallagher. Visitation will be held prior to Mass from 10 to 11am in the church. Burial will be at the convenience of the family at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Joseph’s memory may be made to either: St. Teresa of Calcutta Church or the Mahanoy City Public Library.
Oravitz Home for Funerals Inc, Shenandoah are entrusted with the arrangements with the assistance of James Haughney Jr.
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Born on November 21, 1945 in Philadelphia, she was a daughter of the late Verlon Bill and Marguerite Zimmerman Dunn.
She was a member of St. Peter's UCC, Tremont.
Faith was a CNA and worked at the Tremont Health & Rehab Center. She also delivered the merchandiser with her sister-in-law, Sandy Eisenhauer.
She enjoyed reading, puzzles, watching movies, gardening, and taking care of her family. She was a huge Penn State Football Fan.
Preceding her in death were her first husband, Thomas Piaskowski and an infant daughter, Christine Piaskowski.
Surviving are her husband of 59 years, Edwin W. Klinger, Sr.; two sons, Thomas and wife Ruth Piaskowski of Deer Lake, Edwin Klinger, Jr. of Tremont; four daughters, Michelle and husband Eric Bressler of Bethel, Cassandra and husband Bruce Renninger, Catherine and husband Jamie Brown, Janette and husband Kevin Harris, all of Tremont; 11 grandchildren, Thomas and wife Jamie Piaskowski, Ronald Piaskowski, Jenna and husband Brandon Bretz, Robert Bressler, Angela and wife Amanda Orzalek, Kenneth Reiner and fiance' Andrea, Gabrielle Brown, Hayden Brown, Hailey Klinger, Gavin Harris and Sophie Harris; 7 great grandchildren; three brothers, Ronald and wife MaryAnn Dunn of Pottsville, Rick and wife Carol Dunn of Colorado, Randy and wife Beth Dunn of California; nieces and nephews.
Graveside Services will be held at a later date in the German Reformed Cemetery, Tremont.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer if you would plant a tree in her memory.
The H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove, is in charge of arrangements
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These obituaries are being brought to by Mark J. Hummel Funeral Home, Frackville
