Skook News Obituaries: August 31st, 2026
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Born on January 17, 1930, in Locustdale, Harry was the son of the late Charles and Grace (Jones) Guinther. He attended Cunningham Township High School before enlisting in the Army. For his gallantry and ultimate sacrifice in combat during the Korean War, Corporal Guinther was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Army Good Conduct Medal, alongside the Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp, the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the Republic of Korea-Korean War Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea-Presidential Unit Citation.
Harry’s remains were recovered following the War but could not be positively identified with the technology available at the time and were interred as an unknown at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. More than 70 years later, advances in DNA testing confirmed his identity, bringing long-awaited closure to his family.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Alma Katchick and Thelma Reichwein, and brothers, Russell, Clayton, and Kenneth Guinther.
He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Jean Welker of Lavelle, along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Harry’s Life on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at Christ’s United Lutheran Church, 437 Airport Road, Ashland, with the Pastor Brian Beissel officiating. Visitation will begin at 4:00 p.m. until the time of the service at 6:30 p.m.
Interment with U.S. Military Honors will be held on Friday, September 18, at 2:00 p.m. at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, Pa. The funeral procession will leave Christ’s United Lutheran Church, Friday, September 18, 2026, at 12:15 PM to travel to Indiantown Gap Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P. O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675. Online donations visit: Wounded Warrior Project, donation page. The Richard W. Fritz Funeral Home, Ashland, is in charge of funeral arrangements.4
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Born in Mount Carmel, he was a son of the late John and Anna Sager Urbanowicz. In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by infant twin boys; his siblings, Louis, Robert, Thomas, David, Alice, Elizabeth and Audrey.
Bill was a devout Catholic and a member of Saint Charles Borromeo Parish in Ashland.
Professionally, Bill enjoyed a distinguished 40-year career as a civil engineer with General Electric Environmental Services. Serving as the Lead Design Civil Engineer, he traveled extensively throughout the world, including Taiwan, working on the design and development of power plants and projects involving environmental pollution control. His knowledge, dedication, and expertise made him a respected professional throughout his career.
Bill was deeply devoted to his community and especially proud of his Coal Region roots. Throughout his career, he helped provide employment opportunities for many individuals from the area and took great pride in helping others succeed.
His greatest passion, however, was Ashland Little League. Bill served as president of the Ashland Little League for an incredible 29 years and was involved with the organization for more than 50 years. Bill was the manager of the 1981 Ashland Little League All-Star team that he led to Ashland's first District 24 Championship. He was instrumental in helping to secure the installation of lights at the field and in the construction of the concession stand. More importantly, Bill was a constant presence at the ballpark, always working behind the scenes and doing whatever he could to make the program better for the children of the community. His dedication and commitment left a lasting impact on generations of young athletes and their families.
In recognition of his extraordinary commitment to his community, Bill was honored as the Ashland Elks Citizen of the Year and also served as the ABA Grand Marshal.
An avid sports fan, Bill enjoyed collecting sports memorabilia and sharing his love of athletics with others. He also spent several years running the biddy basketball league at the Butler Building, giving local children another opportunity to learn, compete, and enjoy the game.
Bill will be remembered for his devotion to his family, his Catholic faith, his community, and especially the countless children whose lives he touched through Ashland Little League. His years of service, generosity, and commitment to the betterment of Ashland will be remembered for generations to come.
Bill is survived by his son, Alan Urbanowicz and his wife, Tiffany, of Ashland; his grandchildren, Julian, Natalie, and Kate; along with many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 5th at 11 a.m. at Saint Charles Borromeo Church, Ashland, with Rev. Christopher Zelonis, pastor, as the celebrant. A viewing will be held at the church on Saturday morning from 9 to 11 a.m. Interment will follow in New Saint Mauritius Cemetery, Ashland.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bill’s name, to the Ashland Little League at 27 S. Hoffman Blvd., Ashland, PA 17921.
To sign the guest book, leave personal condolences, and for further information, please visit www.thomasmsullivanfuneralhome.com.
The Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home, Inc., Frackville and Girardville, is in charge of the arrangements.
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Theresa was born in Philadelphia on September 13, 1948.
She was a 1966 graduate of Shenandoah Catholic High School. She worked for many years in the dietary department at Rest Haven Nursing Home.
Theresa will be remembered for her generosity to others. Though she may not have been family, she was loved and a part of the Micko family. “Aunt Tess” as she was so affectionately called, thoroughly enjoyed spending the holidays at the home of Mary Ann Micko and Margaret McAndrew. She adored the family, and particularly the grandchildren.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, September 3rd from 8:30am to 9:45am at the Oravitz Home for Funerals Inc, Shenandoah. Burial will be held at 10am in the Our Lady of Fatima Cemetery in Shenandoah Heights.
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Born on November 11, 1937 in Auburn, she was a daughter of the late Gasper "Marty" DeLisi and Mabel Auman Ney.
She attended Schuylkill Haven High School.
Mary had been a Bell Telephone Operator, a Ticketer at the former Canoe Mfg., and Cashier for the former Kwik Pickins, both in Pine Grove.
She was a member of St. Peter's UCC, Pine Grove.
Mary enjoyed working on the farm and gardening, watching birds and most of all, enjoyed her family and playing games.
Preceding her in death were her husband of 58 years, Donald N. Hafer; and four brothers, Gasper Joseph, Robert and Thomas DeLisi and Terrence Ney.
Surviving are her son, Randy and wife Cheryl Hafer; daughter, Brenda and husband Rich Junker; both of Pine Grove; three grandchildren, Heather and husband Skip Butler, Brian Hafer and his companion Samantha Moyer and her children, Noah and Nora, David and wife Bekah Hafer; two great-grandchildren, Alivia and Logan Clevenger; a great great granddaughter, Ash Clevenger; a sister, Patricia Sunday; nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. at the H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove, with SALM John Ziegler officiating. There will be a viewing on Friday, September 4, 2026 from 9:30 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Schuylkill Memorial, Schuylkill Haven.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to the Pine Grove Area Educational Foundation, P. O. Box 98, Pine Grove, PA 17963 for the Donald Hafer Scholarship in her memory.
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Fredrick was born in Tremont PA, on November 22, 1947, a son of the late Frances Mary (Lemke) and Moses F. Noecker. He was the widower of Georgia Carol (Miller) Noecker.
He served in the U.S. Air Force and worked as a Master Electrician. He loved God, his family and the United States of America. He was active in church throughout his life, and showed his family the importance of following Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He was an honorable man, loyal, self-sacrificial, and loving.
Fredrick is survived by a son, Fredrick (Rick) Franklin Noecker II, husband of Heather Renee Noecker and grandsons Fredrick Franklin Noecker, III, Joshua Nathaniel Noecker and Thaddaeus James Noecker.
Fredrick is also survived by his sister, Eileen, wife of Rev. James Williams, and a brother, Michael Noecker, husband of June.
A Religious Service will be held at on Friday, September 4th 11:30 AM at Hamilton - Breiner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. in Orwigsburg, PA with Pastor Rod Gable officiating.
An evening visitation will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Thursday, September 3rd at the funeral home and also from 9:30 to time of service on Friday.
Interment will be in Berks County Memorial Gardens, Fleetwood.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Haven Baptist Church, 361 PA-61, Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972.
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Fred was born on Sunday, September 25, 1938, a son of the late Roy and Helen Straub Klinger. He was a proud United States Air Force Veteran. Fred also served with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
He was a 1956 graduate of the former Tremont High School.
Fred was employed as a truck driver, working for Gold Mills for over 25 years. He retired from Dennis Fehr Trucking. He also assisted his wife Deanna with her business, Dee's Flowers, helping out wherever needed.
He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Tremont. Fred was also a member of the Tremont Historical Society, a life member of the Little Run Sportsman Club, and a 50 year member of the Tremont Fire Company. Fred also belonged to the former Tremont American Legion and was currently a member of the Pine Grove American Legion.
He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, golfing, and skiing. Fred and his wife enjoyed traveling, visiting many countries and states throughout his life. He loved his German Shorthaired Pointers, and he treated their training, health, and happiness as more than a hobby; it was part of who he was. Above all, his wife, children, and grandchildren were the center of his world. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Dennis Klinger.
Fred is survived by his wife, Deanna Schneck Klinger, to whom they would have celebrated 70 years of marriage on November 24th. He is also survived by his three children, Kim Klinger and her husband Bill Naugle, Newville, Todd Klinger and his companion, Phyllis Reigle, Tremont, and Brady Klinger and his wife Jen, Pine Grove; his four grandchildren, Jennifer Strausser, and Matthew, Kelsey, and Joshua Klinger; two step-grandchildren, Austin and Colin Luckenbill; three great grandsons, Nicholas, Nathan and Gage; a sister, Linda Amos, Dillsburg.
Services will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 11:00 am from the Chapel of the Dimon Funeral Home, Inc., Tower City. Viewing will be from 10-11 am at the chapel. Fred will be laid to rest with full military honors in the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. A luncheon and time of fellowship will be held following the committal service at the Barn at Swatara Village, Pine Grove.
Memorial donations in Fred's name can be made to the Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA, 18 Wertz Dr, Pine Grove, PA 17963.
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Born in Norristown, PA., he was the son of the late Martin and Rosemary (Shuler) Higgins.
Robert was a US Army Veteran and had worked for Sealy Mattress Warehouse of Delano as a Mechanic until they had closed. He then had worked at Kolcraft of North Carolina until he retired.
He is predeceased by one brother, James Higgins.
Surviving in addition to his wife is one son, Robert J. Higgins, Fort Worth, TX; two daughters, Rebecca A. Higgins, Ashland, PA, Noelle E. Higgins, Lavelle, PA; brother, Martin Higgins, Selinsgrove, PA; sister, Rosemarie Dempsey, Kulpmont, PA.
Graveside funeral services will be held privately by his family at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA. 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
