Schuylkill County Obituaries for 03/30/19
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Stephen Daniel Kustan , 61, of St. Clair, died Thursday March 28, 2019 in Hershey surrounded by his family.
Born in Pottsville, January 8, 1958, he was a son of the
late Stephen and Mary Rita (Fitz) Kustan.
Dan was a graduate of St. Clair Area High School and worked
for over 30 years at United Metal Receptacle in Pottsville. He was a
member of the St. Clair Fish & Game Association.
Surviving are 4 sons Aaron Kustan of Schuylkill Haven; Brian
Kustan and his wife Suzanne of New Ipswich, NH; Jacob Kustan and his wife
Amber of Hershey; Nathan Kustan of Hershey; Daughter Brianna Kustan of
Schuylkill Haven; brother Dr. John Alex (Jack) Kustan and his wife
Belinda of North Conway, NH; Niece Jacqueline Kustan of Cambrige, MA; 7
Grandchildren and his companion Kelly McCollum of Middletown.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday April 4, 2019 from Bruce T. Hart Funeral Home, 110 North Second Street St. Clair, PA 17970 with Chaplain James Smith officiating. Friends may call from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Vickie’s Angel Foundation, 511 Bridge St. New Cumberland, PA 17070.
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Thomas J. McKeever, 76, formerly of Nesquehoning, PA, died on Saturday, March 30, 2019 in Hometown, PA. He was the husband of the late Joan A. (nee Sleeva) McKeever who died December 9, 2005. Born in Coaldale, PA on June 3, 1942, Thomas was a son of the late Thomas Peter and Josephine Theresa (nee Yatsko) McKeever. A 1960 graduate of the former Lansford High School, he served in the Army at checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, West Germany. Thomas was employed by Mack Trucks in the machine shop at the Allentown plant. He was of the Catholic faith. Thomas was a member of the United Auto Workers Local 677, past president of the Nesquehoning United Veterans Organization, and a life member of the Nesquehoning Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also served as a coach for the former St. Ann’s CYO basketball. A big history buff, Thomas was especially interested in WWII events. He was a lifelong fan of Notre Dame football, the Mets, and the Yankees. Thomas is survived by daughters, Karen Cholakis and her husband Elia of Sterling, VA, Joyce Burch and her husband Randy of Kutztown, PA, and Anne Connely and her husband Brian of Tamaqua, PA; grandchildren, Nicholas Tupi, Sarah Tupi, Emily Burch, Sydney Burch, and Ross Connely; and brother, James McKeever of Allentown, PA. Services will be held at 11AM on Wednesday, April 3 at the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home, 500 East Broad Street, Tamaqua. Interment in Sky View Memorial Park, Hometown will follow the services. Call 6:30 – 8:30 PM on Tuesday, April 2 and 10 – 11 AM on Wednesday, April 3 at the funeral home. Memorials in Thomas’s name may be made to the Nesquehoning VFW, 300 East Center Street, Nesquehoning, PA 18240. 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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Helen R. Pucklavage, 89, of Nesquehoning, PA and formerly of Tamaqua, PA passed away on Friday, March 29, 2019 in Nesquehoning. She was the wife of the late Edward Z. Pucklavage to whom she was married 63 years at the time of his death on November 15, 2014. Born in Mary D on May 7, 1929, Helen was a daughter of the late John and Marcella (nee Novak) Zelonis. She attended the Blythe Township school and was a member of St. Richard of Chichester Catholic Church, Barnesville, PA. Helen is survived by daughters, Theresa M. Strauss and her husband, Harry of New Ringgold, PA and Diane M. Briggs and her husband, Gerald of Hometown, PA; sons, Joseph J. Pucklavage of Tuscarora, PA and David Pucklavage and his wife, Sonia of Hometown; 8 grandchildren; and 8 great grandchildren. She was the last survivor amongst her siblings. Helen was also predeceased by her son Joseph’s wife, Donna on March 5, 2019. Memorials in Helen’s name may be made to the Hillside SPCA, PO Box 233, Pottsville, PA 17901 or a charity of choice. Private services will be held at the convenience of her family. 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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Eugene I. Brower, 91, of Wild Cherry Rd., Pine Grove, passed away on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 in Lehigh Valley Hospital Schuylkill East.
Gene served in WWII as a Seaman 1/C and returned to raise his family in Oakhurst, NJ where he worked as a general contractor, specializing in fire restoration and water damage before retiring to a farm in Pine Grove, Pa.
Gene was passionate about flying and became a flight instructor and commercial pilot of private aircraft, flying out of what is now, Monmouth Executive Airport in Wall, NJ.
Surviving are his wife of 68 years, Olive D. DeMeter Brower; two daughters, Kathy Jean Brower of Wall, N.J., Patricia Minehan and husband Michael of Pine Grove; 6 grandchildren, Justin O'Horo and wife Christine, Gregory O'Horo and fiancé Megan Seabrook, Sydney Goldstein, Michael Minehan, Katherine Minehan, William Brower; 4 great-grandchildren, Colin, Liam, Jillian and Brayden O'Horo; sister, Grace Pirches of Mississippi.
Preceding him in death were a son, Richard Brower; a sister Marie Delaney; 4 brothers, Edward, Charles, George Brower, Richard Price, his parents Isaac and Amelia Schuler Brower.
All Services will be held at the convenience of the family. Interment will be in Monmouth Memorial Cemetery, New Jersey.
The H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc. Pine Grove is in charge of arrangements and you may send condolences online at www.hlsnyderfuneralhome.com.
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