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Thomas L. Parnell, 80, of Pottsville, passed away Saturday, August 5th, at his residence. He fought the good fight but lost the battle to lung cancer.
Thomas was born in Pottsville, on September 7, 1936, a son of the late Edith D. (Coleman) Parnell Cerullo and Thomas Parnell.
He was the husband of Carolyn M. Parnell, whom he married May 26, 1962.
Tom was a graduate of Pottsville High School, Class of 1954. He attended Lehigh County Community College and Lafayette University and received a degree in mechanical design technology. He retired from Mack Trucks, Allentown as a sales engineer.He was a member of Grace Evangelical Free Church, Cressona, Pottsville Bridge Club and former member of the Schuylkill County Chorus.
He served in the U.S. Marine Reserve in the 63rd Special Infantry.
Tom is preceded in death by his parents, his step father Anthony Cerullo and two infant sons Bryan and Timothy James Parnell.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son Mark T. Parnell husband of Jessica, Allentown; daughter Karen L. Pennington wife of Chris, Newark, DE; grandchildren Abigail, Megan, Rachel, Hannah and Amanda; siblings Colleen Becker wife of Patrick, Schuylkill Haven, Anthony J. Cerullo husband of Cindy, Pottsville, Margaret Cintron wife of Nester, Bethel, Allen Cerullo husband of Mary, Fogelsville, Kathleen Frick wife of Michael, Hummelstown, Edna Townsend, Kenhorst, Barbara Musser wife of Ronald, Mount Joy, Diane Coleman, Seltzer and Colleen Walker wife of Bob, Florida; numerous nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held Wednesday at 11am at Grace Evangelical Free Church, Cressona, with Rev. Randy Ott officiating.
A viewing for family and friends will be held from 9:30 am until the time of the service at the Church.
Tom's family request donations to Grace Evangelical Free Church 101 Graeff St Cressona, PA 17929.
Interment will follow the service at the Schuylkill Haven Union Cemetery.
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Lowell Robert Koch, 85, of Lewistown Valley, Walker Township, PA, died peacefully on Thursday, August 3, 2017 at home and surrounded by family. He was the beloved husband of Elizabeth (nee Billig) Koch, to whom he was married for 64 years. Born in the Lewistown Valley on December 19, 1931, Lowell was a son of the late Roscoe and Emma (nee Frantz) Koch. He was a 1949 graduate of Tamaqua High School. A successful businessman, he was the founder and president of Koch’s Turkey Farm, which he and his wife established in 1953. He grew the farm of 1,300 turkeys per year to nearly one million per year with distribution across half of the United States. His leadership and impeccable work ethic set the standard for his business, and these standards continue among the second and third generations of the Koch family in operating the business today. He was also the president of the former Gottshall’s Turkey Plant in Birdsboro, PA. He served as former president and current member of the Pennsylvania Poultry Federation and member of the National Turkey Federation. For his success in agribusiness, he was awarded Master Farmer of the Year in 1979.
In addition to his success in agriculture, he served as director of Sky View Memorial Park, director of the former Lakewood Telephone Company, and past chairman of the Pennsylvania National Bank Advisory Board. He previously served as a member of the Schuylkill County Soil and Water Conservation District. Lowell was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church, Lewistown Valley; Tamaqua F & A Masons #238; and the Schuylkill Country Club.
He sowed happiness and love into every aspect of his life. He never met a stranger, always turned new people into friends, and enjoyed winters in Florida forming lasting relationships. Lowell was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing; his love of wildlife art transformed him into an amateur collector. He also had a love of classic cars, American-made boots, good food, and scotch.
His greatest source of joy was being a devoted and beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; daughters, Barbara Koch of Lewistown Valley; Beth Argall, married to Dave, of Lake Hauto; and Pamela Williams, married to Samuel, of Lewistown Valley; grandchildren, Conor and Logan Hill, Brandon Koch and Jessica Koch Kellner, Arthur and Elizabeth Argall, Laura Stein Carter, Erica Stein Herrera, Brock Stein, and Brooke Williams; and great-grandchildren Deanna Folk and Landon Carter. He is additionally survived by many nieces and nephews. Lowell was preceded in death by his son, Duane Koch, in June 2017, and his three brothers, Albert, Richard, and Orville Koch.
Services will be held at 11am on Wednesday, August 9 in Zion Church, 491 Valley Road, Lewistown Valley, with Pastor James Williams officiating. Entombment in Sky View Memorial Park will follow the services. Call 6-8pm on Tuesday, August 8 at the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home, 500 E. Broad Street, Tamaqua and 10-11am on Wednesday, August 9 in the church. Memorials in Lowell’s name may be made to Abramson Cancer Center Development, 3535 Market Street, Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104—checks made payable to “Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania.” Online condolences may be made at www.zgfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are being handled by the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Tamaqua.
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Arthur G. Tennant, 83, of Walker Township, Tamaqua, PA died on Thursday, August 3, 2017 in Bethlehem, PA. He was the husband of Marie (nee McMullen) Tennant to whom he was married 25 years. Born in Coaldale, PA on June 22, 1934, Arthur was a son of the late George and Anna (nee Leiby) Tennant. A 1952 graduate of Tamaqua High School, he also graduated from Stevens Trade School with a degree in engineering. Arthur had served in the Army and retired from the former Mack Truck, Allentown, PA. He was of the protestant faith and was a member of the New England Fire Company, the Six County Fireman’s Association, and the Stevens’ Alumni Association. Arthur is survived by his wife, Marie; sons, Bill Tennant and his companion Maggie Wuts of Wheaton, IL, Larry Tennant and his wife Jie Du of Lansdale, PA, Gene Murphy and his wife Brenda of Burlington, NJ, Jack Murphy and his wife Jackie of Lake Hauto, PA, and Tim Murphy of Tamaqua; daughters, Cheryl Humes and her companion Paul Tannenbaum of Highland Park, NJ and Lisa Folkert and her husband, Craig of West Grove, PA; 13 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; sister, Joan Krell of North Beach, MD; 2 nephews; and a niece. He was predeceased by a grandson, P.J. Steigerwalt and a brother, Billie Tennant. Services will be held at 11 AM on Monday, August 7 at the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home, 500 E. Broad Street, Tamaqua with The Rev. Cindy White officiating. Interment with military honors will take place in Sky View Memorial Park, Hometown, PA after the services. Call 9-11 AM on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials in his name may be made to the Hillside SPCA, 51 SPCA Road, Pottsville, PA 1790. Online condolences can be made at www.zgfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are being handled by the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Tamaqua.
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John E. Kovich , 67, of 404 South Nicholas St., St. Clair, died Thursday at Broad Mountain Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Frackville.
Born in Pottsville, September 22, 1949, He was a son of the late John and Jean (Rice) Kovich.
He worked as a Knitter at Argo Mill, Schuylkill Haven.
John was a member of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, St. Clair, PA.
Surviving are a son John E. Kovich Jr. and his wife Nicole of Easton; 1 brother Bernard Kovich of Minersville; 2 grandchildren Kaylee and Darren Kovich.
Divine Liturgy will be held at 10:30 AM Tuesday from St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, 131 South Morris Street St. Clair, PA 17970 with. Very Rev. Francis Twardzik officiating. Friends may call from 9:00-10:00 AM Tuesday at Bruce T. Hart Funeral Home 110 N. Second St. St. Clair. Burial will be in St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Cemetery, St. Clair. Condolences can be sent to http://www.brucethartfuneralhome.com
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Mary Catherine “KiKi” Downey RN, BSN, 60, Frackville, passed away peacefully Thursday evening at her home surrounded by her family and friends.
Born in Shenandoah, she was the daughter of the late Thomas E. and Helen A. Brennan Downey. She had been employed as a Registered Nurse for the former Good Samaritan Hospital, Pottsville as the supervisor of the emergency room. Later, she worked as the nightshift supervisor for Manor Care Nursing Center, Pottsville.
She was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Frackville where she was also a member of the St. Joseph’s Music Ministry and a member of Catholic Daughters of Americas, Court St. Cecelia, Girardville.
She was a 1974 graduate of the former Cardinal Brennan Jr/Sr High School and a 1977 graduate of the Sacred Heart Hospital School of Nursing, Allentown. She received her BSN from the College of St. Francis Joliet, IL.
KiKi was a devoted nurse and a friend to everyone.
She is survived by her brother Tomo and his wife Deborah Downey, Girardville; nephew Warren Teasley and nieces Mercedes Teasley and Margaretanne Finlan; beloved Godchildren: Bridget Gaughan, Rachel Haley Koscil, Jarrad Welikonich and Caroline Buchanan; Cousins: Margaretanne and her husband Robert Buchanan, Patricia and Mary Eleanor Brennan, Rose Marie Smallwood, John, Michael and Rev. Edmund Brennan, the Gaughan Family, Liz and her husband Lou Welikonich; also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday at 10 a.m. from St. Ann’s Church, 49 N. Line St. Frackville with Rev Robert T. Finlan, pastor as the celebrant. Interment will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Fountain Springs. Friends may call at the Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home, Frackville on Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Tuesday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers contributions, in Mary Catherine’s name, be made to family Medical Visiting Nurses of Mount Carmel at 50 S. Oak Street Mount Carmel, PA 17851.
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