Thursday, September 5, 2019

Schuylkill County Obituaries for 09/04/19


Schuylkill County Obituaries for 09/04/19

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Bobbie L Harner, age 90, of Chestnut Knoll, Boyertown, formerly of Valley View, passed away Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at Chestnut Knoll.

He was born on Wednesday, July 17, 1929, in Valley View, a son of the late H. Stanley Harner and the late Hilda I Schwalm Harner

Bobbie was a 1947 graduate of the former Hegins Twp High School and a 1956 graduate of Penn State University.

He served in the US Army during the Korean War.

He was a draftsman for Eastern Prestressed Concrete Corp, Hatfield and then a cost engineer for Gilbert-Commonwealth Consulting Engineers, Reading, until his retirement. After retirement Bobbie was very active in the Hegins Area Ambulance Association and had also worked as a funeral attendant for the Buffington-Reed Funeral Home for many years.

He was a member of Christ's United Lutheran Church, Ashland.

Bobbie was a former Boy Scout Master.

His wife, Anna M Ebert Harner passed away in 2015. He was also preceded in death by his parents; and by a daughter, Debra A Harner.

He is survived by a daughter, Barbara L Harner and her husband Anthony Kerlavage of Montgomery Village, MD; a son, Steven J Harner and his wife Ronlyn of Palm; four grandchildren; five great grandchildren; a brother, Donald "Ted" Harner of Camp Hill; and a niece and a nephew.

Funeral services will be held at the Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Valley View, on Saturday, September 7, 2019, at 11:00 am, with Rev. Donald Zechman officiating.

A viewing will be held from 9:30 am to 11:00 am on Saturday at the funeral home.

Burial will be made in St. John's "Kimmel's" Cemetery, Ashland.

Memorial contributions can be made to Hegins Area Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 678, Valley View, PA 17983.

Condolences can be left for the family at www.buffingtonreed.com.



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Edna M. "Ande" Beach, of Luther Ridge at Seiders Hill, and formerly of Orwigsburg, went with a grateful heart to her eternal rest on Sept. 2, 2019, at Schuylkill Center, Pottsville.

Born in Barnstaple, Devonshire, England, April 4, 1926, she was a daughter of the late Francis and Ellen Timson Cater.

She was a graduate of Triangle College, and attended St. Mary's School of Nursing, both in London, England.

In 1948, at 22, Ande came to New York City with the intention of seeking employment for a year or two before returning home to England.

The highlight of her working life was when she was hired by the British Travel Association. Her responsibility was to encourage travel to war scarred England, which was a challenge at that time. Some time later, she was chosen to travel throughout the U.S. as a good will ambassador for Britain and the six week tour proved to be a great success.

Soon after this, Ande's plans to return home to England changed drastically when she met the man who would become her husband, James W. Beach. He accepted a position as professor of music at Penn State University Park.

After their engagement, he moved to State College and Ande went home to visit her parents before joining him there. They were married at the Eisenhower Chapel on campus. They spent five happy years there, Jim teaching and Ande working as secretary to the assistant chaplain. From there, they moved to Madison, Wis., and while there, Jim was asked if he would consider starting a music program at Penn State Schuylkill. They moved here in 1967, thinking they would stay for about a year, but they never left.

In addition to her parents, Ande was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jim, on Jan. 7, 2008.

She is survived by several cousins and an abundance of friends who meant the world to her. She spoke many times of her gratitude for them, some of whom were like her family and she marveled at the loyalty of their "kids" (Jim's former students from as far back as the '50s who continued to love and care for her as they had for Jim.)

She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Pottsville, and until moving to Luther Ridge, was a member of OWLS (Orwigsburg Women's League).

There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at First United Methodist Church, 330 W. Market St., Pottsville, with the Rev. John C. Wallace officiating. Friends may gather at 10 a.m. until the time of service. Burial is private. In lieu of flowers, it was Ande's wish that any remembrances that friends might wish to give, should be sent to one of the following, all of them dear to her heart: Penn State University, Attn: James W. and Edna M. Beach Scholarship Fund, PSU, 200 University Drive, Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972; Penn State University, Attn: James W. Beach Endowment Fund, College of Arts and Architecture, 124 Borland Building, University Park, PA 16812; First U.M. Church, 330 W. Market St., Pottsville, PA 17901.

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Bettie Lou (Schaeffer) Emerich, 81, of Cressona, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 1st, at Seton Manor, Orwigsburg.

Bettie Lou was born in Cressona, PA on November 20, 1937, a daughter of the late Elizabeth (Kantner) and Vernon Schaeffer.

She was the wife of Clifford E. Emerich. The couple shared 63 years of marriage.

Bettie Lou was preceded in death by her brother, Drew Schaeffer, and her sisters, Donna Reed and Shirley Hill.

She was a graduate of Cressona High School, Class of 1955.

She was previously employed as a waitress at Sites Luncheonette, Cressona, and had served as the Cressona Tax Collector for 8 years.

Bettie Lou was a kind and gentle person who adored her family. She loved the community of Cressona in so many ways. She was a lifelong member of St. Mark's United Church of Christ, teaching Sunday School, serving on Consistory and the Lay Fellowship Committee, and assisting the Candy Elves. She was a charter member of the Cressona High School Alumni Committee and looked forward to seeing her classmates at their reunions. Bettie Lou also was an active member of the Cressona Historical Society and a member of the Good Will Hose Co. Ladies Auxiliary.

Bettie Lou is survived by a daughter, Cheryl Lagola, wife of John, of Orwigsburg; two sons Jeffrey Emerich and Clifford L. Emerich, both of Cressona.

Bettie Lou is also survived by grandchildren: Jennifer Emerich, Brandy Emerich, Jacob Emerich, Jillian Krammes, Ryan Lagola, and Mark Lagola; 15 great-grandchildren; and sister, Bernice Yoder, wife of William, Sun City West, Arizona.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be conducted on Thursday, September 12, at St. Mark's United Church of Christ, Cressona, at 10:30 AM, with Rev. Kevin Fruchtl officiating.

A visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 until the time of the service.

The family requests that contributions be made to St. Mark’s United Church of Christ Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 55, Cressona, PA 17929 in memory of Bettie Lou.

The family also wishes to thank the staff of Seton Manor for their compassion and support of Bettie Lou while she resided there.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Ebling-Stabingas Funeral Home, Cressona, with cremation services provided by Riverside Cremation Services, LLC, Schuylkill Haven, PA.

To extend online condolences, please visit www.gsesfuneralhomes.com


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Lois F. “Loie” Walsh, 91, passed away Monday at Lehigh Valley Hospital Schuylkill- East Norwegian, Pottsville, after a brief illness.

Born in Pottsville March 21, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Arthur “Scoop” and Margaret “Peg” Lesher Felsburg.

She was a 1944 graduate of Pottsville Area High School. She was married to John B. “Jack” Walsh who preceded her in death in 2008.

Loie lived in Tampa, Florida for 46 years working at the Hillsboro County Courthouse as a judge’s assistant until her retirement in 2001. She was an avid Philadelphia and Penn State sports fan as well as a talented knitter and crocheter. She was an avid reader of paperback book novels. Lolie had a heart of gold, always willing to help her family and giving to numerous charities. She will be deeply missed.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Joan F. Andrews in 2017 and a niece, Debra Sue Andrews in 1958.

Surviving family members are a brother-in-law Donald Andrews, Pottsville; niece Wendy Kline, Bethlehem; nephew Donald Andrews, Jr., Pottsville; and several great nieces and nephews.

Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home 515 West Market Street Pottsville has been entrusted with arrangements. As per Loie’s wishes there will not be any funeral services. Interment will be held at Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven. Please visit schlitzerallenpugh.com to leave a condolence for the Walsh family.

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John W. Holmberg, 75, of Tamaqua, PA died on Wednesday, September 4, 2019, at home. He was the husband of Elizabeth “Betsy” (nee Kane) to whom he was married 55 years. 

Born in Northampton, England on October 19, 1943, John was the son of the late John F. and Betty (nee Love) Holmberg. A 1961 graduate of Tamaqua High School, he attended the Ford School of Business in Pottsville, PA. 

John worked for the Borough of Tamaqua for 29 years as an operator of the borough water treatment plant. Prior to his employment at the water treatment plant, he worked for Joseph Boyle Builders and also Holmberg Builders. John was a member of The Parish of St. John XXIII, one of the original founding members of the Tamaqua Rescue Squad, and a member of the Tuscarora Sportsman Club. 

In addition to his wife Betsy, he is survived by sister, Betty Horton and her husband Thomas of Haddon Heights, NJ; nephews, Edward Kane, Brian Kane, Sean Kane, Michael Horton, and Douglas Horton; niece, Christine Kane; and numerous great nephews and nieces. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Monday, September 9, 2019, in St. John XXIII Catholic Church, 307 Pine Street, Tamaqua. Call 8:30AM - 10:30 AM on Monday at the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home, 500 East Broad Street, Tamaqua. 

Interment will take place at the convenience of the family. Memorials in John’s name may be made to the Tamaqua Rescue Squad, 19 Pine Street, Tamaqua, PA 18252. Online condolences may be made at www.zgfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are being handled by Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Tamaqua.

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Timothy J. Whiteash, 38, formerly of Tower City, passed away Saturday, August 31st, in Reading.

Tim was born in Coaldale, March 15, 1981, a son of Esther Rockwell, Girardville and the late David Whiteash. At the age of two, Bill and Ruth Davidson, Mahanoy City, became his legal guardians and raised him in Tower City.

Tim was a 1999 graduate of Williams Valley High School. He currently was employed as a laborer at a distribution center in Reading.

He loved his children with all his heart and was extremely proud of all of their accomplishments. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing. He was an avid fan of the Red Sox, Steelers and Penn State.

Surviving in additions to Esther, Bill and Ruth are his wife, Cara Klinger Whiteash, Lykens; his children; Breanna C. and Isaac D. Whiteash both at home; a stepson, Zachary Burian; siblings Brenda Shadle, Fountain Springs, Derek Davidson, Mahanoy City; Kristen Evans, Ashland; Joe Breslin, Camp Hill, Michelle Keffer, Tower City and John Davidson, Frackville; an uncle Eric Whiteash, Reading.

A Celebration of Tim's life will be held on Saturday, September, 7th at 11:00 am from the Calvary United Methodist Church, Wiconisco with Pastor Annette Shutt. Visitation will be from 10-11 at the church. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Dimon Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 644 E. Grand Avenue, Tower City, PA 17980 to help with expenses. To sign the guestbook visit www.dimonfuneralhome.com

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Marian R. Miller, 82, of Pottsville, who made us laugh, who walked the bike path, who sported a tan, who loved the beach and the sand, went to her Eternal Rest on Sunday, September 1st in the comfort of her home.

She was born on November 13, 1936 at the Pottsville Hospital to the late Walter and Doris Michael Hurst.

She attended the Pottsville Schools and graduated from Pottsville High School in 1954.

Marian worked for 38 years as a legal secretary to several judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Schuylkill County, retiring in 1992.

She was married for 57 years to the former, Gurney Miller who died on April 6, 2015. They had two children, Elaine Hafer, wife of Greg, and Gurney R. Miller, all of Pottsville.

Marian was an active member of the Evangelical United Methodist Church of Pottsville, where she served as Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School teacher, President of the United Methodist Women, and past president and member of the Administrative Board. She also served on the Conference and District levels of the United Methodist Church. She served as a member of the Conference Board of Lay Ministry, where she was chairperson of the Lay Academy for 6 years and received training to be a certified Lay Speaker. She spoke in many local churches. She and her husband hosted vacation bible school at their home for 27 years and also several Bible Study groups.

Marian went on four mission trips to Homestead, FL, Albany, GA and Buffalo, NY to help clean up after hurricanes, floods and to restore homes in depressed areas. She claimed those trips to be one of the high-lighes of her life. Her mission in life was to help others.

Marian enjoyed walking, swimming, bicycle riding; her visits to the shore at Ocean City, N.J; going on trips; and, spending time at her Florida home in Tropicana Park, Ft. Myers, FL, where she had many good friends.

She loved her grandchildren and was known as “Mimi” to them and others. Preceding her in death were her husband Gurney and her sister Jean Dilcher, 2013. In addition to her children she is survived by 4 grandchildren, Jade, Luke, Mariah, and Hannah, sister Lois Lowthert, 2 brothers, Edward (Ned) Hurst married to Gayle and Kenneth Hurst; several nieces and nephews whom she adored; and also great nieces and nephews and great, great nieces and nephews.

Memorial service celebrating the life of Marian will be held Saturday at 11am at Evangelical United Methodist Church, Pottsville with Rev John Wallace and Rev. Greg Hafer officiating. Family and Friends and invited to a visitation from 9-11am at the church.The family would prefer remembrances in the form of contributions in memory of Marian be made to Evangelical United Methodist Church, 305 S. Centre Street, Pottsville, PA 17901 or Department of Surgery Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, 1015 Walnut Street, Curtis Bldg., Suite 620, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

Arrangements are under the care of James B. Humphrey, F. D., James E. Humphrey Funeral Home, Pottsville.



Please share your memories and condolences with Marian’s family by signing the guest book at www.jehumphreyfuneralhome.com


These Obituaries are brought to you by

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