Skook News Obituaries: May 31st, 2026
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Born in Hazleton, she was a daughter of the late John and Anna (Havrilla) Garshell.
Janet was a 1964 graduate of Hazle Township. She worked as a laboratory analyst at Kraft Foods for 19 years, retiring in 1999.
A member of St. John XXIII Catholic Church, Tamaqua, Janet was a woman of deep faith who cherished her family above all else. She enjoyed playing board games with family members and was especially known for the baked treats she lovingly prepared for her grandchildren.
Surviving are her husband, Albert Lakitsky of Andreas; a daughter, Tricia Smathers and her husband, Brad, of Kittanning; grandchildren, Madison of Pittsburgh and Michael, a medical student at the University of Massachusetts; sisters, Dorothy Hess of Hummelstown, Anna Fedor of Pottsville, Elizabeth Padgett of Plant City, Florida, Joan Pinarowicz and her husband, Millard, of Mountain Top, and Kathleen Marsiglio of West Hazleton; brothers, John Garshell and his wife, Nancy, of Laurel, Maryland, and Francis Garshell and his wife, Sharon, of Hazleton; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Michelle Lakitsky, who died in 2005; brothers, Thomas Garshell and Paul Garshell; and sisters, Mary Houser, Eleanor Brislin, and Leona Martin.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00AM on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at St. John XXIII Catholic Church, 307 Pine Street, Tamaqua. Private interment will be held at the convenience of the family.
Memorials in Janet's name may be made to Dream Come True – Blue Ridge Chapter, P.O. Box 344, Palmerton, PA 18071, or to Shriners Children's Hospital, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.
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Born in St. Clair, April 6, 1936, She was a daughter of the late Frank R. and Dorothy A. (Price) Weller.
She was the Owner of Yuengling Quality Ice Cream Shop, worked at various garment factories including Necho Mills, Onyx, Pottsville Shirt; A retail clerk at Value City; night desk at the Fairlane Motor inn and finally Retired as a warehouse employee for Schoneman Beauty Supply.
She was a member of St. John UCC, St. Clair, where she was involved with consistory and was a Sunday School teacher. She loved gardening and rooting for the Eagles and Penn State Football
She was preceded in death by a sister Harriet Weller.
Surviving are a son Dennis Lengle of St. Clair.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00AM Saturday June 6, 2026 from Bruce T. Hart Funeral Home, 110 North Second Street St. Clair, PA 17970 with The Rev. Jennie Stauch officiating. Friends may call from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Saturday at the Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hillside SPCA PO Box 233 Pottsville, PA 17970. Burial will be in Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven.
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Born in Ringtown, Elaine was the daughter of the late Ralph and Alice (Llewellyn) Rumbel. She was a 1967 graduate of the former Ringtown High School and was employed in the local modular home and motorhome construction industry in both Ringtown and Paxinos throughout her career.
Elaine enjoyed visiting local casinos, where she especially loved playing the slot machines. She was an avid estate sale enthusiast who took great pride in finding unique treasures and bargains. One of her greatest joys was taking motorcycle rides with her husband, Robert.
In addition to her parents, Elaine was preceded in death by her daughter, Christa Hart; her sister, Diane Mummey; her brother, Ralph Rumbel Jr.; her granddaughter, Brittany Zelinsky; her great-granddaughter, Aaidlyn; her nephew, Carl Zehner; and her great-niece, Dianna Aponick.
Elaine is survived by her devoted husband, Robert Paskanik; her daughter, Gina Hart and her significant other, Al Faust; her grandchildren, Cara Lynch and her husband, Steven, and Jonathon Yuskoski; her great-granddaughter, Sylvia Yuskoski; her sister, Jean Oliver; her brother, Philip Rumbel; and many beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026, at Stauffer-Breznik Funeral Home, 412 West Main Street, Ringtown. A visitation with Elaine's family will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home prior to the service.
Elaine will be remembered for her warm smile, love of family, adventurous spirit, and the joy she brought to those who knew her. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all who loved her.
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Born in Pottsville, PA on April 2, 1948, he was the son of the late Russell and June (Scheibelhut) Ruch.
Jack was a graduate of Pottsville High School, Class of 1966. He then earned a Bachelor's Degree in Education from the University of Delaware, where he also played football. Jack worked as a teacher at Pottsville Area High School from 1970 until 2006 where he taught Social Studies, History, and Government and also coached Track and Football. He was inducted into the Pottsville High School Sports Hall of Fame. Jack was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Pottsville, a member of the Schuylkill County Relay Committee and the Pottsville Recreation Committee. He loved coaching track, cooking, talking about history, fishing at the beach, and reading.
Jack is survived by his wife of 53 years, Cheryl Elaine (Lowthert) Ruch, Pottsville; daughter Jennifer Dolbin and her husband Josh, New Ringgold; son Kurt Ruch and his wife Carolyn, Lancaster; son John Ruch Jr. and his wife Jacquelyn, Mountain Top; daughter Kristin Hunter and her husband Ben, Orwigsburg; and grandchildren: J.T., Rebekah, Josh Jr., Noah, and Marshall Dolbin, Jake, Kurt, and Tyler Ruch, Riley, Lila, and Brayden Ruch, and Rusty and Charlotte Hunter.
A Memorial Service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pottsville at 12 Noon on Tuesday, June 9th, with Rev. Chris Rothharpt officiating.
Relatives and Friends are invited to visit with the family on Tuesday 10:30-12Noon at Trinity Lutheran Church.
Interment will be held private at Mount Peace Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Jack to Wounded Warriors.
The Robert A Evans Jr Funeral Home, Port Carbon is in charge of arrangements.
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Born in Deturksville, on Thursday, March 23, 1933, a daughter of the late Benjamin and Ivy Fiddler Leisey.
She was a graduate of the Schuylkill Business Institute.
In her younger years, she worked as a seamstress in the local garment industry. She then went on to work as an executive secretary with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Aging.
She was a very active and faithful member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, where she was a former member of the council, altar guild, kitchen committee, Sunday School teacher, and communion assistant. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Glen Chapter, Lykens.
Sara was the coordinator with the Lutheran Home Services for many years. She will be remembered for always going above and beyond for everyone. She could often be found volunteering in the community, helping for many years with Old Home Week. Above all, family was the center of her world. Sara will be remembered as a wonderful, wife, mother, nanny, aunt, and friend.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Charles Walter Minnich, 2014; a daughter, Holly Artz, 2018; three brothers, Fred, Clark, and Glenn Leisey.
Surviving are her daughter, Karen Bruner and her husband Gary; her beloved grandchildren, Jessica Artz and her husband Paul Rodichok, Caleb Bruner and his wife Fredline, Sean Artz, Katie Bruner and her husband Jason Vogel, and Monica Denver; her great grandchildren, Isabella Marie Clark, Valerie, Sean, Zane, and Maddox Artz, Gabriella, Sophia, Cecelia, and Aliana Bruner, Tristan Pereschuk, Nick and Gage Vogel, and Emma and Raven Denver; three sisters-in-law, Joan Minnich, Joan Miller, and Janet Shutt; numerous nieces and nephews, including Darlene Wollyung who was very close to Sara.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 11:00 AM from St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Tower City, with Pastors Harold Hand and Annette Shutt officiating. Viewing will be from 10-11 at the church. A luncheon and time of fellowship will immediately follow the service. Sara will be laid to rest privately in the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Sara's memory can be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 415 E Grand Avenue, Tower City, PA 17980.
The Dimon Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc., Tower City, is honored to serve Sara's family.
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Obituary and funeral details will be released upon completion.
MARK J HUMMEL FUNERAL HOME, Frackville, has charge of arrangements.
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Obituaries from the past 7 Days
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These obituaries are being brought to by Mark J. Hummel Funeral Home, Frackville
