John P. Wetzel
John P. Wetzel, 76, of Valley View, died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004, at home.
Born in Pitman, November 29, 1927, he was a son of the late Allen A. and Carrie Gahres Wetzel. He was educated in Pitman area schools.
He was a retired truck driver for Hegins Mining Co., Zerbe.
He was a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Congregational Church, Woodmen of the World Lodge Camp 433 and Mahantongo Fire Company, all of Pitman; Hegins Fire Company, Valley View Fire Company, Maine Fire Company, Shamokin, and Valley View Gun Club.
He was preceded in death by six brothers, Irvin, in 1930; Charles, in 1997; Arthur, in 1998; Paul, in 1999; Elmer, in 2000; and Franklin, in 2001.
Surviving are his wife, the former Joline S. Weikel, whom he married
on Sept. 13, 1947; a son, John A. of Pitman; a daughter, Faye A. Wolfgang of Hegins; a sister, Alma Shaffer of Dalmatia; two brothers, Donald of Wiconisco, and Lloyd of Pitman; three grandchildren; a great-grandson; nieces and nephews.
Services were held Monday, Feb. 23 from St. Paul's ECC, with the Rev. Kenneth Schira officiating. Interment was in St. Paul's cemetery, Pitman.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Paul's Evangelical Congregational Church Memorial Fund, 172 Ridge Rd., Pitman, PA 17964. Stephen R. Rothermel Funeral Home, Klingerstown, was in charge of arrangements.
Mary A. Wilkins
Mary Anne Wilkins R.N., 64, formerly of Heckscherville, died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2004, at Tremont Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Born in Pottsville, February 2, 1940, she was a daughter of the late Joseph G. and Mary Todak Andrachick. She was a graduate of Cass Township High School and Ashland Hospital School of Nursing. She had lived in Pelham, N.H., prior to moving to the area.
She had been a registered nurse at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center and Tremont Health and Rehabilitation Center until becoming ill.
She was of the Catholic faith.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry.
Surviving are three sisters, Dyan Marks of Pine Grove, Kathy Bolito of Eaugalle, Fla., and Regina Diamantopoulos of Cressona; three brothers, James Andrachick of Melbourne, Fla., John Andrachick of West West Terrace, and William Andrachick of Wickliffe, Ohio.
Private services were held Tuesday, Feb. 17, from Mahal-Ritzel Funeral Home Inc., Minersville. Interment was private.
Doris M. Yoder
Doris M. Yoder, 78, of Pine Grove, died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004, at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center.
Born in Lincoln, June 24, 1925, she was a daughter of the late Lawrence and Ida Boe Hand.
She was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Pine Grove, and a past member of the former Order of the Pocahantas.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Dr. Lawrence and Norman Hand.
Surviving are her husband of 55 years, Bert H.; a son, Steven L. of Pine Grove; a grandchild; two step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren.
Memorial service were held Saturday, Feb. 21, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Dr. Richard W. Schoenleber officiating. Interment was in St. Peter's Lutheran cemetery, Pine Grove. H.L. Snyder Funeral Home Inc., Pine Grove, was in charge of arrangements.
Anna M. Baker
Anna M. Baker, 80, of Wellsboro, formerly of Hegins, died Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004, at the home of her son Franklin Specht in Leck Kill.
Born in RR1 Klingerstown, Aug. 9, 1923, she was a daughter of the late Charles A. and Lottie E. Reiner Fetterolf.
She was a retired garment worker, having worked in Valley View, Dalmatia, Gratz and Pine Grove area factories.
She was a member of Christ United Church of Christ, Leck Kill, and International Ladies Garment Workers Union.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Leon C. Specht, who died on Dec. 26, 1944, in Germany during World War II; three sisters, Pauline Masser, Mae Fetterolf and Iva Saltzman; a brother, Mark Fetterolf.
Surviving are her second husband, Clinton Baker; two sons, Franklin of Leck Kill, with whom she resided, and Jack Specht of Hegins; three sisters, Elda Kehler of Perkiomenville, Katie Rothermel of Warmister, and Ethel Kimmel of RR1 Klingerstown; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Memorial service were held Saturday, April 17, in Christ UCC, with the Rev. Mark Rothermel officiating. Stephen R. Rothermel Funeral Home, Klingerstown, was in charge of arrangements.
Anna Mae Barr
Anna Mae Barr, 83, of Pine Grove, died Friday, Feb. 13, 2004, at Pottsville Hospital.
Born in Pine Grove, March 17, 1920, she was a daughter of the late Harry and Carrie Koble Gassert. She was a 1938 graduate of Pine Grove High School.
She was a lifetime member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Pine Grove, where she was a Sunday school teacher, and its Women of the ELCA.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley W. "Hank, " who died on April 19, 1988.
Surviving are a daughter, Patricia Sattizahn of Pine Grove; a son, Eric of Mount Penn; two sisters, Elizabeth Behney and Irene Heinbach, both of Pine Grove area; three grandchildren.
Graveside memorial services and interment were held Tuesday, Feb. 16, at St. John's Lutheran cemetery, Pine Grove. H.L. Snyder Funeral Home Inc., Pine Grove, was in charge of arrangements.
Jean L. Bligan
Jean L. Bligan, 80, of Tremont, died Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004, at ManorCare Health Services, Pottsville.
Born in Pine Grove, November 3, 1923, she was a daughter of the late William and Charity Roth Hummel. She was a 1941 graduate of Tremont High School.
She was employed as a floorlady for 45 years at Moris Manufacturing, Tremont.
She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Tremont, Tremont Senior Citizens and Tremont Legion Post Auxiliary for more than 50 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl E., who died on Aug. 29, 1980; three sisters, Anna Kramer, Ruth Rumpf and Margaret Klinger; and three brothers, Myles, Paul and Jacob Hummel.
Surviving are a son, Kevin of Wayne; a sister, Pauline Achenbach of Allentown; and a grandson.
Services were held Monday, Feb. 16, from H.L. Snyder Funeral Home Inc., Pine Grove, with the Rev. Robert Wilt officiating. Interment was in Schuylkill Church of the Brethren cemetery, Pine Grove. H.L. Snyder Funeral Home Inc., Pine Grove, was in charge of arrangements.
Winifred J. Clark
Winifred J. Clark, 74, of Lancaster, formerly of Sacramento, died Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004, at home.
Born in Sacramento, she was a daughter of the late Earl C. and Dollie A. Herb Clark.
She worked part-time for J.C. Snyder Insurance Agency, Lititz since 1992. She also worked for several insurance providers, including, as a corporate secretary for the former Lancaster Casualty Insurance Co. Prior to moving to Lancaster, she worked for The Valley Citizen, a weekly newspaper in Valley View.
She was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Sacramento, PA and attended Grace United Church of Christ, Lancaster.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Ruby Clark Stiely Zecher.
Surviving are a brother-in-law, Robert Zecher of Leola, six cousins, Carol Shade, Ruth Stehr, and Warren Heim all of Sacramento, Evelyn Furman of Highspire, Clair Heim of Reading, and Margaret Sagner of Hegins.
Memorial services were held Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Furman Home for Funerals, Leola, with the Rev. Jayne Hubbard officiating. Interment of ashes was in the St. Paul's Evangelical Congregational cemetery, Pitman.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Paul's United Church of Christ Memorial Fund, Sacramento, PA 17968. Furman Home for Funerals, Leola, was in charge of arrangements.
Edward W. Clay
Edward W. Clay of Halifax, died Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004, in his home.
Born October 23, 1928 in Harrisburg, he was a son of Charles and Marie Clay.
He was a clerk for the Harrisburg Post Office and retired after 31 years. He was a Veteran of the Air Force and spent two years in Germany. He was a Catholic and a member of Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Millersburg and former member of Holy Family in Harrisburg.
Surviving are his wife, Mary Jane Clay; three daughters, Colleen Marie Kline of Middletown, Lisa Ann Petroff of Halifax, and Patricia Strahosky of Carlisle; a sister, Rose Parks of Mechanicsburg; and six grandchildren.
Funeral Mass was held on Saturday, Feb. 14, at Queen of Peace Church, Millersburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to Dialysis of Linglestown Road or Hospice of Pinnacle Health.
Martha M. Cooper
Martha Mae Cooper, 89, of Halifax, died Monday, Feb. 9, 2004, in Harrisburg Hospital.
Born in Halifax, December 22, 1914 she was a daughter of the late Newton and Mabel Baker Steffen.
She retired as a seamstress from the Garment Industry. She was a member of Valleys United Church of Christ, Halifax, and a former member of Matamoras Church of God.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James M. Cooper; two brothers, Herman and Robert; and two sisters, Sarah Yeager and Annabell Seiler.
Surviving are a son, Dennis of Halifax, with whom she resided; two brothers, Lee of Seattle, WA and Charles of Hershey; two sisters, Jean Lawlor and Lois Stine, both of Halifax; a granddaughter; two great-children; and nieces and nephews.
Religious services were held at Reinhard Funeral Home Friday, Feb. 13, with the Rev. Kristine Lentz officiating. Interment was in Long's cemetery, Halifax.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905. Reinhard Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Betty A. Etzweiler
Betty A. Etzweiler, 79, of Chambers Hill Road died Wednesday Feb. 11, 2004, at home.
Born in Millersburg, she was a daughter of the late Harvey and Lizzie Shaffer Etzweiler.
Betty enjoyed her housemates and staff at the Chamber Hill for SDS. She attended the Goodwill Industries' Day program.
She was preceded in death by six brothers Earl, George, Marlin, Robert, Fred and Harvey; and a sister Helen Wilt.
Surviving are two brothers, James Etzweiler of Herndon and Paul Etzweiler of Millersburg; a sister Dorothy Reed of Millersburg.
Services were held on Friday Feb. 13, at Hoover Funeral Home, Millersburg. Interment was in Salem Lutheran cemetery, Killinger. Hoover Funeral Home, Millersburg, was in charge of arrangements.
Paul A. Gessner
Paul A. Gessner, 79, of RR 1 Herndon, died Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004, at the Sunbury Community Hospital, Sunbury.
Born at RR 1, Herndon, he was a son of the late William and Jennie Wert Gessner.
He was a retired farmer and timberman, and had been employed by the former Faylor-Middlecreek, Inc., for 26 years, having worked as an equipment operator and later a foreman, and was also last employed by Meckley's Limestone Products, Inc.
He was a member of the Emmanuel Wesleyan Church, Gratz, where he served on the church board for 45 years.
He was educated in the Herndon area schools.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Katie Gessner and Martha Lenig; and a brother, Samuel Gessner.
Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Roxey A. Rothermel Gessner; a daughter, Renee J. Shiko of Coal Township; three sisters, Esther Maneval of RR 3 Sunbury, Margaret Aurand of Northumberland, and Violet Gessner of Gratz; a brother, Ralph Gessner of Pillow; three grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Feb. 17, from the Emmanuel Wesleyan Church, Gratz, with the Rev. Timothy Dotson officiating. Interment was in the Emmanuel Wesleyan Church, Gratz.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Emmanuel Wesleyan Church Building Fund, 6297 Lykens Valley Rd., Gratz, 17030. The Stephen R. Rothermel Funeral Home, Klingerstown, was in charge of arrangements.
