Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Born in Tamaqua, PA on May 22, 1930, she was the daughter of the late John and Helen (Gumusky) Buragas.
Helen was predeceased by her husband of 49 years, John (2000) and her grandson Christopher (2008).
She is survived by three sons, John (Karen) of Duncannon, PA, Donald of Saxis, VA, and Robert of Harrisburg and two grandsons Joshua of Lemoyne, PA and Daniel of Duncannon, PA.
She graduated from Tamaqua High School, class of 1948, and continued studies at the Ford Business School. Helen spent her first four years of marriage living in Germany while her husband was in the Army and it was there, they had their first two sons. The Firkals returned to Tamaqua and soon relocated to Harrisburg in 1956. After raising her children, Helen worked at Dauphin Electric, Central Dauphin School District, and the PA Dept. of Revenue. She enjoyed playing cards, knitting, crocheting, doing puzzles and playing scrabble.
Private services with burial in Sky-View Memorial Park, Hometown will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to Penn State Heart & Vascular Institute, checks made payable to Penn State and mailed to: Office of Development, P.O. Box 852, Hershey, PA 17033.
Arrangements are being handled by the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Tamaqua.
Born on June 8, 1926 in Pine Grove, he was a son of the late George and Mabel Knapp Rumpf.
He was a WWII Army Veteran, having served with Troop H 5th CAV.
Paul worked in the Ore Mines for Bethlehem Steel.
He was a member of Outwood Lutheran Church, Pine Grove. He was also a member of the H. H. & L. Fire Co. #1, Pine Grove and a life member of the Oak Grove Sportsman Club, North End Fire Co., Pine Grove and the Pine Grove American Legion Post 374.
Paul was an avid Philadelphia Phillies fan and loved baseball.
Preceding him in death were his wife of 63 years, June D. Aungst Rumpf; five sisters, Shirley Lehman, June Strausser, Anna Allison, Grace Rumpf and Josephine Smolski; and two brothers, Robert Rumpf and Carl "Skip" Rumpf.
Surviving are two daughters, Catherine and husband James Mabry of Pine Grove, Pauline and husband Gary Logsdon of Florida; two sons, George and wife Candace Rumpf, Richard and wife Debra Rumpf, both of Pine Grove; seven grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. at the H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove with Pastor Barry Spatz officiating. There will be a visitation on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the Outwood Lutheran Cemetery, Pine Grove.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to the North End Fire Co., P. O. Box 118 Pine Grove, PA 17963 in his memory.
Kathleen E. (Rhoads) Merchlinsky, 93 of Shenandoah passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at the Shenandoah Senior Living Community.
Born in Shenandoah on April 8, 1928, she was a daughter of the late George and Elizabeth (Anspach) Rhoads but she was raised by the late Catherine and Leo Anspach.
Kathy was a 1947 graduate of the former J.W. Copper High School, Shenandoah. She organized and attended each and every one of her class reunions from the first one until the most recent one.
She was a devout member of Divine Mercy Parish, Shenandoah, St. Casimir’s Church. She was a member for over fifty years of the Cenacle sponsored by the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity.
Kathy was a founding member of the Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society and a founding member of the Greater Shenandoah Area Senior Citizens. She was extremely church and community oriented; she was well known for the many social and fundraising events she organized and will be especially remembered for her Tea Parties and her baking. Many will remember her as Betsy Ross in the annual Shenandoah Heritage Day parade. Kathy also fostered many children through Catholic Charities.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Charles R. Merchlinsky on November 3, 2000; two brothers, Professor George Rhoads and Leo Rhoads.
Surviving are four daughters who were affectionately known to her as Charlie’s angels, Kathleen DeWald and her husband John of Deer Lake, Bonnie Ohlinger of Blue Eye, Missouri, Virginia “Ginni” McAndrew and her husband Joseph of Shenandoah, and Ann Marie Hudock and her husband John of Shenandoah; nine grandchildren, Kathy Christie, Gunnar, Kyle, Curtis, JohnPaul, Laura, Zachary Leo, Stacy Lee & Regina Louise; fifteen great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at 10:00 am in St. Casimir’s Church, 229 N. Jardin St., Shenandoah, the sacred worship site of Divine Mercy Parish with Monsignor Ronald C. Bocian, Pastor as the celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Casimir’s Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights. Relatives and friends may call on Wednesday morning from 8:00 am until 10:00 am at the church.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Father Walter J. Ciszek Chapel, c/o 108 W. Cherry Street, Shenandoah, PA 17976.
Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 S. Jardin Street, Shenandoah is in care of the arrangements.
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Paul G. Rumpf, 95, of Pine Grove, passed away on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown.Born on June 8, 1926 in Pine Grove, he was a son of the late George and Mabel Knapp Rumpf.
He was a WWII Army Veteran, having served with Troop H 5th CAV.
Paul worked in the Ore Mines for Bethlehem Steel.
He was a member of Outwood Lutheran Church, Pine Grove. He was also a member of the H. H. & L. Fire Co. #1, Pine Grove and a life member of the Oak Grove Sportsman Club, North End Fire Co., Pine Grove and the Pine Grove American Legion Post 374.
Paul was an avid Philadelphia Phillies fan and loved baseball.
Preceding him in death were his wife of 63 years, June D. Aungst Rumpf; five sisters, Shirley Lehman, June Strausser, Anna Allison, Grace Rumpf and Josephine Smolski; and two brothers, Robert Rumpf and Carl "Skip" Rumpf.
Surviving are two daughters, Catherine and husband James Mabry of Pine Grove, Pauline and husband Gary Logsdon of Florida; two sons, George and wife Candace Rumpf, Richard and wife Debra Rumpf, both of Pine Grove; seven grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. at the H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove with Pastor Barry Spatz officiating. There will be a visitation on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the Outwood Lutheran Cemetery, Pine Grove.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to the North End Fire Co., P. O. Box 118 Pine Grove, PA 17963 in his memory.
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Born in Shenandoah on April 8, 1928, she was a daughter of the late George and Elizabeth (Anspach) Rhoads but she was raised by the late Catherine and Leo Anspach.
Kathy was a 1947 graduate of the former J.W. Copper High School, Shenandoah. She organized and attended each and every one of her class reunions from the first one until the most recent one.
She was a devout member of Divine Mercy Parish, Shenandoah, St. Casimir’s Church. She was a member for over fifty years of the Cenacle sponsored by the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity.
Kathy was a founding member of the Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society and a founding member of the Greater Shenandoah Area Senior Citizens. She was extremely church and community oriented; she was well known for the many social and fundraising events she organized and will be especially remembered for her Tea Parties and her baking. Many will remember her as Betsy Ross in the annual Shenandoah Heritage Day parade. Kathy also fostered many children through Catholic Charities.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Charles R. Merchlinsky on November 3, 2000; two brothers, Professor George Rhoads and Leo Rhoads.
Surviving are four daughters who were affectionately known to her as Charlie’s angels, Kathleen DeWald and her husband John of Deer Lake, Bonnie Ohlinger of Blue Eye, Missouri, Virginia “Ginni” McAndrew and her husband Joseph of Shenandoah, and Ann Marie Hudock and her husband John of Shenandoah; nine grandchildren, Kathy Christie, Gunnar, Kyle, Curtis, JohnPaul, Laura, Zachary Leo, Stacy Lee & Regina Louise; fifteen great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at 10:00 am in St. Casimir’s Church, 229 N. Jardin St., Shenandoah, the sacred worship site of Divine Mercy Parish with Monsignor Ronald C. Bocian, Pastor as the celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Casimir’s Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights. Relatives and friends may call on Wednesday morning from 8:00 am until 10:00 am at the church.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Father Walter J. Ciszek Chapel, c/o 108 W. Cherry Street, Shenandoah, PA 17976.
Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 S. Jardin Street, Shenandoah is in care of the arrangements.
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Shirley Mae Draugelis, 90, former Cresswell Gardens, Ashland resident, passed away Thursday, March 17, 2022 at the Autumn House East Hospice Center, York, PA.The Richard W. Fritz Funeral Home, Ashland, will announce funeral arrangements.
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