Obituaries by LocationMay 29, 1997
Mary T. Sinkonis
Mrs. Mary T. Sinkonis 77, of 136 Walnut St., Tuscarora, died Wednesday in the Pottsville Hospital. She was the widow of Edward J. Sinkonis who died in 1991.
Born in Wilkes Barre, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Theresa (Kulackuis) Zigmontanis.
She was a member of St. Bertha Catholic Church, Tuscarora.
Surviving are two daughters, Margaret Mary, wife of William Burke of Fredericksburg, Va., and Theresa, at home; and two grandchildren.
The was the last member of her immediate family, she was also preceded in death by a brother George and two sisters, Lillian and Anna.
The August M. Gulla Funeral Home, 130 E. Ridge St., Coaldale, is in charge of the arrangements.
Andrew J. Nemshick
Andrew J. Nemshick, 80, of Alexandria, Va., died May 14 in Virginia. He was the husband of the late Pauline (Evancho) Nemshick.
He was employed by the federal government in Washington, D.C., holding several positions including a budget analyst and office production manager with the Rural Electrification Administration.
Born in Hazle Brook, he was a son of the late George and Anna (Gera) Nemshick.
Nemshick was a 1934 graduate of Freeland MMI High School and an alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania.
An Air Force veteran of World War II, he was a fighter pilot. His plane was shot down over Germany. He was recipient of the Air Medal with 12 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star and several other military medals and citations.
Surviving are a son Mark and daughter Paula; two sisters, Anna Bolish of Weatherly and Helen of Hazleton; two brothers, George of Weatherly and Michael of Hazle Brook; five grandchildren, a great-grandchild and nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Helen I. Andrews
Mrs. Helen I. Andrews, 88, formerly of Kunkletown, died Wednesday in the Brookmont Acres Nursing Center, Effort. She was the widow of Marvin P. Andrews.
She was an elementary teacher at the Eldred Township School and in the Palmerton Area School District for 36 years before retiring in 1972.
Born in Kunkletown, she was a daughter of the late Wesley H. and Minnie (Prutzman) Pearsol.
She was a member of St. Matthew United Church of Christ, Kunkletown.
Surviving are three sons, Marvin of Palmerton R.2, James of Palmerton and Daniel of Bethlehem; a sister May of Weatherly; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
The Thomas K. Thomas Funeral Home, 145 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Harold R. Mosher
Mrs. Arlene M. Mosher, 72, of East Stroudsburg, died Wednesday in the Brookmont Acres Nursing Center, Effort. She was the wife of Harold "Dutch" Mosher.
A member of the Graphic Communication International Union, she was employed by the Hughes Printing Company, East Stroudsburg.
Born in Scranton, she was a daughter of the late Roy and Margaret (Williams) Shields.
She was a member of East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church and Mrs. Stine's Sunday school class.
Surviving in addition to her husband are a daughter Nancy of Analomink; two brothers, Harry of East Stroudsburg and William of Lehighton; a sister, Lillian Imbt in Florida; two granddaughters and nieces and nephews.
Carl H. Betz
Carl H. Betz, 73, of Orefield, died Wednesday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. He was the husband of Marion A. (Wenner) Betz. They observed their 50th wedding anniversary last July.
He was president of Carl H. Betz Building Supplies and Trucking Company, Orefield, for the past 56 years.
Born in Weisenberg Township, he was a son of the late Warren and Mildred (Herman) Betz.
He was a member of the Lutheran congregation of Morgenland Church, Orefield.
Betz was an Army veteran of World War II.
He was a Northwestern Lehigh school director for 25 years, having served as the board president and vice president.
Surviving in addition to his widow are five sons, Barry C., Darryl J. and Gavin L., all of Orefield, and Randy S. and Kevin W., both of New Tripoli; 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Anne A. Schneck
Mrs. Anne E. Schneck, 80, formerly of North 11th Street, Allentown, died Tuesday in ManorCare Health Services, Salisbury Township. She was the widow of Frederick B. Schneck.
She was a saleswoman for the former H. Leh & Company, Allentown, for many years before retiring.
Born in Fullerton, she was a daughter of the late John E. and Alice C. (Hafner) Fertle.
She was a member of St. James Lutheran Church, Allentown.
Surviving are a daughter, Dorothy A. of Kunkletown; and a son, John F. of Milton, Vt.
Joseph C. Pitera
Joseph C. Pitera, 70, of 23 Center St., Tamaqua, died Tuesday in his home.
He was a highway man for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for many years before retiring in 1989.
Born in Summit Hill, he was a son of the late Albert and Kathryn (Vojcik) Pitera.
He was a member of St. Jerome Catholic Church, Tamaqua.
Surviving are a brother John of Lansford; a sister, Mary Stone of Summit Hill; five nephews and a niece.
The Thomas J. Parambo Funeral Home, 54 W. Fell St., Summit Hill, is in charge of the arrangements.
Madeline Potocnie
Madeline Potocnie, 76, of 611 Franklin Ave., Palmerton, died Wednesday in the Palmerton Hospital.
She was a presser for the former Natalie Fashions, Palmerton, for 43 years before retiring in 1987.
Born in Palmerton, she was a daughter of the late Calvin Frantz and Lizzie S. (Strohl) Frantz Wolfe.
She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Sokol Hall and the Hungarian Club, all of Palmerton.
Surviving are a daughter, Barbara A. Emmert of Palmerton; seven sisters, Debbie, wife of Elwood Muffley, Shirley, wife of Leroy Snyder, Josephine, wife of Lew Marianni, and Mrs. Arlene Beltz, all of Lehighton, Mrs. Pauline Christman of Walnutport, Carol, wife of Donald Affelder in Florida, and Grace, wife of Karl Auchter of Macungie; five brothers, John Wolfe Jr. and James Wolfe, both of Lehighton, Wayne Wolfe of New Ringgold, Kenneth Frantz of Weatherly and Clair Frantz of Palmerton; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a brother, Donald Frantz.
Mrs. Elsie P. Mehrkam
Mrs. Elsie P. Mehrkam, 84, of 3156 Golden Key Road, New Tripoli, formerly of Schnecksville, died Tuesday in the Phoebe Home, Allentown. She was the widow of Edwin F. Mehrkam.
She was a sewing machine operator for apparel companies in the Lehigh Valley for 20 years before retiring in 1975.
Born in North Whitehall Township, she was a daughter of the late Senator and Lillie (Hoffman) Schneck.
She was a member of Union Evangelical Church, Neffs.
Surviving are three daughters, Irene E., wife of Roderick D. Kemmerer of Whitehall, Loretta M., wife of Albert J. Miller Jr. of Northampton, and Carol A., wife of Ray C. Peters of New Tripoli; two brothers, Carl D. of Walnutport and Willis E. of Emerald; 14 grandchildren, including Robert J. Sowell of Rineyville, Ky., whom she raised; and 25 great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Helen E. Sowell.
Mrs. Barbara Mary Lafferty
Mrs. Barbara Mary Lafferty, 67, of 1604 Shenandoah Court, Allentown, died Wednesday in her home. She was the widow of James C. Lafferty.
She was a receptionist at Lehigh Manor, Lower Macungie Township, for the past two years, and previously had worked in the telecommunications department of the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township.
Born in Lehighton, she was a daughter of the late George L. and Mary A. (Levan) Miller.
She was a member of Faith Evangelical Free Church, Trexlertown.
Mrs. Lafferty attended Moravian College, where she majored in music.
Surviving are a son, Jay Mayes of Quakertown; a daughter, Jayne C., wife of A.J. Imbach of Allentown; two brothers, George E. of Lehighton and Dr. Joseph A. of Allentown; and a sister, Erma Begel of New Bedford, Mass.
Mrs. Verna V. Roberts
Mrs. Verna V. Roberts, 87, of Whitehall Township, died Wednesday in the Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown. She was the widow of Russel Roberts.
Prior to retiring, she was a weaver for the former Lehigh Spinning Mills, Northampton.
Born in Kresgeville, she was a daughter of the late Alfred and Amelia Meckes.
Surviving are three sons, Donald H. of Allentown, Elwood R. of Bethlehem and Carl of Danielsville; two daughters, Dorothy Sodl and Miriam Mayerchak, both of Northampton; 14 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by two daughters, Fern and Marjorie; and a son Dale.
William J. Schmidt
William J. "Reds" Schmidt, 84, of the Hometown Nursing Center, Tamaqua R.2, formerly of 50 W. Fourth St., Jim Thorpe, died Wednesday in the emergency room of the St. Joseph Hospital, Hazleton. He was the husband of Alice (Herman) Schmidt, also a guest at the home. They observed their 56th wedding anniversary on May 17.
He was a loom fixer for the former Zales Silk Mill, East Mauch Chunk, before retiring.
Born in East Mauch Chunk, he was a son of the late Joseph and Rose (Grob) Schmidt.
He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Jim Thorpe, where he was an usher for many years.
Schmidt was the faithful navigator of the former Lafayette Assembly No. 971, now the Monsignor Agnello Angelini Assembly, from July 1978 until June 30, 1980. At the time of his death, he was serving as faithful admiral.
He was also a faithful member of the Damien Council No. 598, Knights of Columbus, Jim Thorpe, serving as grand knight from July 1983 until June 1985. He was the council's current recording secretary.
He was a deputy of District 26 from July 1980 to June 1982.
Schmidt was a staff sergeant in the Army Air Corps during World War II, having served in the Philippines. He was a member of the Dolon-Jones-Martino American Legion Post 304, Jim Thorpe.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a sister Mary of Jim Thorpe; three brothers, Conrad and Hubert, both of Jim Thorpe, and Frank of Lodi, Calif.; and nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by a brother Lawrence.
The Edward F. Melber Funeral Home, 524 Center St., Jim Thorpe, is in charge of the arrangements.
Violet N. Kehl
Violet N. Kehl, 73, of 26 Market St., Tamaqua, died Wednesday evening at her residence. She was the widow of Richard C. Kehl, who died in 1995.
Born in Lincolnton, N.C., she was a daughter of the late Clyde and Netty (Lutz) Seagle.
She was a member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Tamaqua.
Surviving are four daughters, Diane G., wife of Ted Matrician, Barnesville, Sandra A., wife of Curtis Link Jr., of Arlington, Tx, Debra J., wife of Edward Johnson Jr. of Tamaqua, and Melissa J., wife of Jeffrey Martin of Tuscarora; six sons, Richard C. Jr., George D., and Gary M., all of Tamaqua; Robert B. of Lansford, Ronald T. of Coaldale, and Thomas W. of Mahanoy City.
Also, 33 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Dwight and James Seagle, both of Lincolnton, N.C.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Gladys Inez, who died in 1993.
The Zizelmann Funeral Home, Tamaqua, is in charge of arrangements.
