Obituaries for Schuylkill County and the surrounding areas.
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Born on September 18, 1943 in Albany, KY, she was the daughter of Joseph and Martha Troxell Weston.
Ann was preceded in death by her husband Tom and her daughter Sharron Van Arkel.
She is survived by her daughter Stephanie Schwartz and her husband Don, her son Thomas Spece Jr. and his wife Andrea, grandchildren, Peightyn Schwartz, Brandyn Spece, Bryana Spece, and Christian and Amanda Updike. She also has 3 great grandchildren.
Ann spent most of her youth in Monticello, KY before moving to Chicago, IL. She was a waitress at a truck stop, where she met her husband Tom, whom she was married to for 55 years and eventually moved to Pottsville to start their family.
Ann learned to cook at age 5 and enjoyed cooking and learning coal region recipes with her own southern touch. Ann made the most of her many talents as she loved to sew, read, paint, work on wood projects, and write poetry. She also opened her own business, Annie's Little Orphans, where she made and repaired dolls from her home.
Ann was an incredible advocate for Native American rights and fought for the removal of Indians as mascots and spoke at many levels of education about the cause. She traced her heritage back to the Tennessee River Band of Chickamauga Cherokee Indians and attended many pow-wow's.
With the help of her daughter Stephanie, they helped coach a Special Olympics dance team. She also delighted crowds at Martz Hall as the original "BB Sting" who was the Pottsville Stingers Professional basketball team's official mascot.
She loved fishing, the outdoors, and watching her children and grandchildren play sports. She often spoke of her last game she attended where she was able to watch her granddaughter, Peightyn, win a District 11 Softball Championship last spring. She will be greatly missed by all.
Following Ann's request, there will be no services. Ann and her husband will be buried at Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, Pa. at the convenience of the family.
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He was an Army veteran.
LeRoy worked in construction as a Heavy Equipment Operator.
Preceding him in death was his wife, Marie Shomper Stoudt, a grandson Jason Umbenhauer, a step son, Ralph Geist, and a sister, Betty Ann Kreiser.
Surviving are a son, Dennis and wife Marsha Stoudt of Pine Grove; three daughters, Linda and husband Robert Shott, Karen Stoudt, both of Pine Grove, Patti and husband Ray McNeill of Douglas, MA; grandchildren, Brandon, Bobby, Jimmy, Angel, Mike, Cory, Matt and Tiff; many great grandchildren; a step daughter, Diane Umbenhauer of Schuylkill Haven; a brother, Robert Stoudt of Pine Grove; two sisters, Mary Jane "Cookie" Swartzlander of Pine Grove and Eva Mae MacGallicher of Ephrata; his girlfriend Trena Cannell of Iowa.
Graveside Services and interment will be held at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery at the convenience of the family. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to the American Diabetes Association, P. O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023 in his memory.
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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Jeannette Hamm, 91, formerly of Port Carbon, passed away on Wednesday at Rosewood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Born on May 4, 1929 in Schoentown, she was a daughter of the late James and Elsie Crowe Gettis. She attended Port Carbon schools.
Preceding her in death were her husband, William J. Hamm, Sr., former director of Schuylkill County Veteran Affairs Office, two sons, Edward Hamm and William J. Hamm, Jr.; two siblings, Elsie Paulis and James Gettis.
She is survived by three children, Robert Hamm, Minersville, Victoria Milillo, Schuylkill Haven, and Deborah Weiss, Orwigsburg. She is also survived by another daughter, Diane Strenkoski Hutnyan, Pottsville; nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at the family’s convenience at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
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William S. “Bill” Dower, 81 of Shenandoah passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2020 in Front Royal, Virginia. Bill was born on May 5th, 1939 in Shenandoah Heights and was raised in Shenandoah by the late Beatrice and Harry Dower.
Bill served in the United States Marine Corps and was proud of his service to his country.
He retired from the trucking industry after more than 25 years of dedicated service.
Bill was a good-natured, kind person who loved spending time with family. He was very fond of dogs and enjoyed watching action movies and playing video games.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 32 years, Elizabeth (McGuire) Dower and his stepdaughter, Nancy Yablonsky.
Surviving are two sons, Daniel Dower and William Dower, both of New Jersey; two step-sons, Mike George and his wife, Ingrid, of Front Royal, Virginia, and Frank George of Shenandoah; granddaughter, Felicia Carter and her husband John of Shenandoah Heights; his beloved sister, Mildred “Millie” Haglund of Greensburg; additional grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Religious services will be held on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at 10:00 am at Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 South Jardin Street, Shenandoah with Monsignor Ronald C. Bocian officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in Annunciation BVM Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights. A viewing will be held on Wednesday morning from 8:30 am until 10:00 am at the funeral home. All CDC and PA Department of Health COVID-19 guidelines will be observed.
Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, Shenandoah is in charge of the arrangements.
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Michael J. Kohr, 53, of Tower City, formerly of Tremont, passed away unexpectedly Friday, at the home he shared with his companion, Heather Hause Eichert.Born in Pottsville, September 22, 1966, a son of the late Ernest and Catherine Connelly Kohr.
Mike attended Pine Grove Area High School. He was of the Catholic Faith.
He was last employed by Quality Stone, Tower City.
Mike is a member of the Tower City and Pine Grove American Legions; Williamstown and Pine Grove V.F.W. He enjoyed collecting antiques.
Surviving are his three children, Samantha Kohr, Minersville; Chad Kohr, Pine Grove and Zachary Kohr, Minersville; two grandsons, Heath and Bentley; his wife he was separated from, Lorrie Renninger Kohr, Hegins; a step-son, Matthew Fidler, Pine Grove. Numerous friends.
A Celebration of Mike's life will be held Thursday, July 2nd at 7:00 pm from the Chapel of the Dimon Funeral Home, Inc., Tower City with Pastor Annette Shutt. In lieu of flowers donations should be made to the Dimon Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc, 644 E. Grand Avenue, Tower City PA 17980 to help with expenses. To send condolences to the family please visit www.dimonfuneralhome.com
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Helen R. Mucha, 94, of Shenandoah, passed away on Thursday evening, June 25th at the Broad Mountain Health & Rehabilitation Center, Frackville. Born in Shenandoah on October 12th, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Stanley and Rozalia “Delacott” Jedruch.
She worked for many years at the Mahanoy City Cigar Factory as well as a housewife. Helen was a lifelong member of the former St. Casimir’s Church, Shenandoah.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Paul Mucha in 2006, 2 brothers, Edward and Joseph Jedruch, and 3 sisters, Loretta Yasinowich, Stella Komosinsky, and Sophie Klonduck. Helen was the last member of her immediate family.
Surviving are 2 sons, Ronald Mucha with his wife Anna Marie, Frackville, and Jerry Mucha, Shenandoah. Nieces and nephews also survive.
A visitation for family and friends will take place on Tuesday, June 30th from 8:30am to 10am at the Oravitz Home for Funerals Inc, 40 N. Jardin St, Shenandoah. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30am in Divine Mercy Parish, 218 W. Cherry St, Shenandoah officiated by Msgr. Ronald Bocian. Burial will follow in St. Casimir’s Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights.
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