Emergency services in Schuylkill County honored a fellow firefighter that died suddenly last month.
On Saturday morning, the Pottsville Fire Department and Schuylkill EMS led a procession after a mass for John David Wollyung, 57, of Pottsville, who passed away from complications with COVID-19 on December 20th, 2021.
Wollyung was well know within the fire and EMS community through being a member of the Yorkville Fire Company and the Pottsville Fire Department.
John was a volunteer for the Pottsville Lions Ambulance since 1980; the Pottsville EMS, the Orwigsburg EMS, and the Schuylkill EMS; and he was also a trained EMT since 1980. John was very devoted to the Yorkville Hose Company, where he served two terms as Assistant Fire Chief and is the current Duty Officer as well as the current President. John held many other positions serving as Engineer, Lieutenant, Captain, and Fire Trustee.Saturday's procession led by the city's apparatus and ambulances travelled down West Norwegian Street from St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church to the cemetery where Wollyung was laid to rest.
Fire companies from around Schuylkill County lined West Norwegian Street and saluted as the procession passed through an archway by Pottsville's ladder truck at 20th Street.
"John was a leader for building Yorkville Hose Company as an elite Rescue Company not only for the city but Schuylkill County and beyond. He was the person you wanted to be friends with, he would do anything for everyone" said Pottsville Fire Chief Jim Misstishin.
He is survived by his wife, Marianne (Marzullo) Wollyung, to whom he was married 32 years; a son, Christopher Wollyung, fiance of Rachel Wood, of Pottsville; two brothers, Joseph M. Wollyung II, husband of Suzanne, of Pottsville; and Michael J. Wollyung, companion of Amy Brahler-Miller, of Minersville; nieces and nephews: Andrew, Amanda, Michael, Stephen, and Emma Wollyung; aunts, uncles, and cousins; plus countless friends and his family of first responders in the community.
Minersville Fire and Saint Clair Fire assisted with covering the City while the Pottsville Fire Department attended the service.
