Schuylkill County Obituaries for 12/09/18
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Eugene (Gene) "Cowboy" Wycheck, Jr., 71, of Mahanoy City, PA, passed away Friday, December 7th, at his residence.
Eugene was born in Mahanoy City, PA on March 17, 1947, a son of the late Dorothy (McCormick) and Eugene Wycheck, Sr.
Gene was a graduate of Mahanoy Area High School, class of 1965. He attended McCann School of Business. He worked for 30 years at the former Clover Farms in Mahanoy City and then the former Morgan Knitting Mills and retired from Wegmans Warehouse in 2015.
Gene was a pro in bowling leagues and won many trophies. He also loved growing plants for many years and taking care of his tomato garden.
Gene was well known by everyone in Schuylkill County and throughout the area. He will be missed by all.
Eugene is survived by a sister, Tange Berresford, of Mahanoy City; a brother, George, husband of Ann Marie, of Frackville. Niece Tammy and her husband Brian Platukis, Weston. Great niece Alissa, and great nephew Seth Platukis, and one aunt, Mary Zelonis, of Pottsville, and cousins.
A Funeral Service will be celebrated at the Louis D. Truskowsky Funeral Home & Crematory Inc., Mahanoy City, PA, at 11 am on Thursday, December 13th, with Rev Jack Murray officiating.
Friends and family may call Thursday from 9 to 11.
Interment will follow at Skyview Memorial Park Tamaqua, PA.
Louis D. Truskowsky Funeral Home & Crematory Inc. Mahanoy City is in charge of arrangements. Visit www.truskowskyfuneralhome.com to sign the guest book and send sympathy cards.
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Archie E. Schiff, 107, of Manassas, VA and formerly of Pottsville, passed away peacefully on Saturday in his residence with his family by his side.
Archie was born on July 22, 1911 in New York , NY, just one year before the sinking of the Titanic. He was the son of the late Philip and Gussie (Pollner) Schiff.
He was a life long member of the Oheb Zedeck Synagogue, Pottsville.
Archie proudly served his country in the U.S. Army Air Corp during WWII. He served in the China/IndiaBurma Theater, where he was in charge of scheduling the maintenance for the Sorte flights and was known as “Old Eagle Eye” for his ability to spot aircrafts before anyone else.
He was the former owner and operator of the Pottsville Window Cleaning Company for over 45 years after taking over the business started by his father.
Archie was a very fascinating and interesting man to talk with and was especially proud of the years he spent playing minor league baseball for the Pottsville team and sharing stories of all of the changes he had witnessed in his 107 years.
In addition to his parents, Archie was preceded in death by his wife, Naomi (Freilich) in 2009 and to whom he was married 60 years; sisters: Ann Ellman and Freda Schiff; and brother: Isadore Schiff.
He is survived by a daughter, Susan, wife of Carl Murphy, with whom he resided in Manassas; son, Lawrence Schiff, of Hawaii; granddaughter, Elena Schiff; sister, Rose Jeser, of FL; one niece and one nephew; several great and great-great nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, December 12th at 10:30 a.m. in Oheb Zedeck Cemetery, Pottsville with the Rabbi Brian Michelson officiating.
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be expressed at lordbixler.com.
Archie E. Schiff, 107, of Manassas, VA and formerly of Pottsville, passed away peacefully on Saturday in his residence with his family by his side.
Archie was born on July 22, 1911 in New York , NY, just one year before the sinking of the Titanic. He was the son of the late Philip and Gussie (Pollner) Schiff.
He was a life long member of the Oheb Zedeck Synagogue, Pottsville.
Archie proudly served his country in the U.S. Army Air Corp during WWII. He served in the China/IndiaBurma Theater, where he was in charge of scheduling the maintenance for the Sorte flights and was known as “Old Eagle Eye” for his ability to spot aircrafts before anyone else.
He was the former owner and operator of the Pottsville Window Cleaning Company for over 45 years after taking over the business started by his father.
Archie was a very fascinating and interesting man to talk with and was especially proud of the years he spent playing minor league baseball for the Pottsville team and sharing stories of all of the changes he had witnessed in his 107 years.
In addition to his parents, Archie was preceded in death by his wife, Naomi (Freilich) in 2009 and to whom he was married 60 years; sisters: Ann Ellman and Freda Schiff; and brother: Isadore Schiff.
He is survived by a daughter, Susan, wife of Carl Murphy, with whom he resided in Manassas; son, Lawrence Schiff, of Hawaii; granddaughter, Elena Schiff; sister, Rose Jeser, of FL; one niece and one nephew; several great and great-great nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, December 12th at 10:30 a.m. in Oheb Zedeck Cemetery, Pottsville with the Rabbi Brian Michelson officiating.
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be expressed at lordbixler.com.
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Alice M. McCormick, 76, of Bethlehem and formerly of Pottsville, passed away Friday in St. Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem.
Born in Pottsville on October 21, 1942, she was a daughter of the late Loretta D. (McCarthy) and George W. Miller.
She was a 1961 graduate of Nativity BVM and a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church.
Alice was a housekeeper at Manor Care for over 20 years, retiring in 2013. In her spare time she volunteered at Hillside SPCA and worked with Turning Point residents.
In addition to her husband, Walter L. McCormick, to whom she was married 46 years, she is survived by: son, Michael P., husband of Kelly, of Bethlehem; daughter, Michelle C., wife of Jeremy Bass, of Ozark, AL; grandchildren: Ashley L. and Emily M. Turner, Kacey and Brandon McCormick, Aden, Austin N., and Emelie G. Bass and Krista L. Gardner; brothers: Edward Miller, of Waldorf, MD and George Miller, of Hazleton; several nieces and nephews; and great nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, December 13th at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick R.C.C., 319 Mahantongo St., Pottsville.
Interment will follow in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.
The family request contributions in Alice’s memory be sent to: Hillside SPCA, Hillside Road, Pottsville, PA 17901.
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be expressed at lordbixler.com
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Elizabeth "Betty" Butsko, 89, of Minersville, passed away on Saturday at home.
Born in Duncott, Cass Township, she was a daughter of the late John Fesnock and Mary Voloshin Fesnock Geles. She attended Cass Township schools. She was a long-time floor lady in the local garment industry, having worked for D & M Garment and Van Heusen. She later worked in the Bakery Department of Way-Mart Markets, and at the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29, feeding the children in the cafeteria.
She always loved sitting on the front porch and breezeway and listening to Polkas every Saturday night and Sunday morning with Polka Joe. She was an avid baker in her day, making delicious nut rolls, cakes, and cookies for every family function and all the parties in her and her husband's basement.
She was the proud wife of retired Pennsylvania State Trooper, Peter Butsko, who passed away in 1997. She resided with her daughter and son-in-law since the passing of Peter, for the last 21 years, in the home she and Peter built.
She was a member of Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Minersville. She was also a former chair-lady and member of ILGWU.
In addition to her husband, she was also preceded in death by three brothers, Paul Fesnock, George Geles, Jr. and John Fesnock; two sisters, Helen Zurat and Pauline Willis.
Betty is survived by her daughter and caregiver, Linda Swartz, her son-in-law and caregiver, William Swartz; two sisters, Anna Copelin, San Diego, and Mary Deminsky, Ashland; a brother, Joseph Geles (Corinne Litwak), Duncott; nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends may call at Dutcavich Funeral Home, 200 Sunbury Street, Minersville, on Thursday from 6:00 P.M. with Parastas at 7:30 P.M. and on Friday from 6:00 A.M. until 9:15 A.M. Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. in Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, 558 Sunbury St, Minersville. Interment will be in Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Cemetery, Branch Township.
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