Obituaries by LocationDecember 4, 1996
David P. Kloss
David P. Kloss, 42, of Stonegate Road, Quakertown, died Monday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. He was the husband of Leslie (Sheldon) Kloss. They observed their 16th wedding anniversary in August.
He was self-employed in a lawn care business for a number of years and also had worked for more than 10 years at General Electric, formerly in Allentown.
Born in Allentown, he was a son of James J. Kloss of Lake Worth, Fla., and the late AnnaMay (Gray) Kloss.
Surviving in addition to his widow and father are five brothers, James K. of Lafayette, La., and Thomas E., Donald, Edward and Alfred, all of Allentown; and seven sisters, Karen Schneck of Slatington, Linda McGoey of Port Jervis, N.Y., and Patricia, wife of Bernard Boyer, Susan, wife of Gerald Cichonski, Judy, wife of Donald French, Nancy Schulte and Jane, all of Allentown.
Mrs. Henrietta B. Taylor
Mrs. Henrietta B. Taylor, 75, of New Tripoli, died Tuesday in the Liberty Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Allentown. She was the widow of Fred D. Taylor.
She was a bookkeeper and sales assistant for Boas Surgical, Allentown, for 30 years before retiring in 1988.
Born in Philadelphia, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Beatrice (Geise) Heist.
She was a member of St. John Evangelical Congregational Church, Allentown.
Surviving are a son, Fred D. of Germansville; a brother Buddy of Baltimore, Md.; a sister Alice of Allentown; two grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
Karstein M. Vigsnes
Karstein M. Vigsnes, 81, of Penn Forest Streams, Penn Forest Township, Jim Thorpe, died Tuesday morning in the Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital, Lehighton. He was the husband of Karen (Clausen) Vigsnes. They observed their 55th wedding anniversary last Jan. 25.
He was a retired marine engineer and had worked for the Mobil Oil Corporation in New York.
Born in Mandal, Norway, he was a son of the late Birger and Alma (Ellingsen) Vigsnes.
He served with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Merchant Marines during World War II and was a member of the U.S. Navy Armed Guard Veterans of World War II, Northeast Pennsylvania Area Chapter. he also belonged to the Aurora Grata Day Star Lodge No. 647, F. & A.M., Bay Ridge Masonic Temple, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son, Richard A. of West Chicago, Ill.; a brother, Birger Vigsnes of Bennington, Vt.; two sisters, Alfhild Vigsnes and Anna Marie Johansen, both of Norway; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The Edward F. Melber Funeral Home, 524 Center St., Jim Thorpe, is in charge of the arrangements.
Emery V. Serfass
Emery V. Serfass, 89, formerly of Little Gap, died Monday in the Mahoning Valley Convalescent Center, Lehighton. He was the husband of the late Ellen (George) Serfass.
He retired in 1969 as a foreman after 45 years of service with the former New Jersey Zinc Company, Palmerton.
Born in Palmerton, he was a son of the late Emory and Lydia (Green) Serfass.
He was a member of St. John Towamensing Lutheran Church, Palmerton.
A 32nd degree Mason, he was a member of F. & A.M. Lodge No. 440, Slatington.
Surviving are three daughters, Elaine, wife of James Stevens of Valois, N.Y., Barbara, wife of Delbert Fisher of Palmerton, and Mrs. Nancy Costenbader of Lehighton; seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
The Thomas K. Thomas Funeral Home, 145 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Maisie J. Heffelfinger
Mrs. Maisie J. Heffelfinger, 95, formerly of 216 Fifth St., Walnutport, died Tuesday in the Phoebe Home, Allentown. She was the widow of Thomas N.D. Heffelfinger.
She was a custodian at the Walnutport Elementary School of the Northern Lehigh School District for several years before retiring.
Born in Kresgeville, she was a daughter of the late Monroe and Mary (Shupp) Serfass.
She was a member of Christ United Church of Christ, Walnutport.
Surviving are a son, James Fulton, and a daughter Arlene, wife of Charles Zellers, both in Arizona; a sister, Berneda Molanney in Florida; nine grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a son, Fulton D., and a daughter, Ruby E. Grammes.
Anthony A. Davis
Anthony A. Davis, 39, of 322 Franklin St., Bethlehem, died Sunday in his home.
He was a salesman for Easy Sportswear.
Born in Fountain Hill, he was a son of Anthony and Hope Davis of Bethlehem.
Surviving in addition to his parents are a brother Michael of Nesquehoning; and a sister Lisa and his paternal grandfather, Anthony Davis Sr., both of Nesquehoning.
H. R. Fenstermacher
H.R.Fenstermacher, 84, owner and president of Hadesty Hardware Co., Inc., with family owned stores in Tamaqua and Pottsville, died Thanksgiving Day in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he resided.
He was the husband of Valena E. Fenstermacher. His former wife is Martha D. Fenstermacher, also of Scottsdale.
Born in Tamaqua, he attended public schools there and subsequently received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Susquehanna University.
His association with his family's hardware concern, founded in 1857, was interrupted by his service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, from 1942-45.
He became president of the family business in 1950. He served on the boards of the Miners National Bank of Pottsville and the First National Bank of Tamaqua. He was president of the Pennsylvania-Atlantic Seaboard Hardware Association and also served on the board of the National Retail Hardware Association.
Retiring to Scottsdale in 1967, he remained active in civic affairs, and as a service to his close friend, the late Walter W. Ross, he became managing director of Phi Sigma Alpha, an international self-improvement sorority until 1977. He was managing director emeritus at the time of his death.
At the time of his death, he was also on the boards of the Scottsdale Boys Club and the Verde Vaqueros. He was a member of the City of Scottsdale Personnel Board, and was director of Seminars of the Sun, a newly-incorporated concern which provides nationally-known motivational speakers as a service to conventions held locally.
While serving with the Navy during World War II, he attained the rank of lieutenant.
Surviving in addition to widow are three sons, Herman J. II of Orwigsburg, Gary D. of Dexter, Mich., and Richard T. of Pottsville; two stepdaughters, Glenda McGillicuddy and E.K. Butler, both of Phoenix, Az.; a brother, Theodore F. of Cortland, N.Y.; 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
He was also preceded in death by a brother Albert.
The Messinger Mortuary and Chapel, Scottsdale, is in charge of the arrangements.
Lawrence V. Prekopa
Lawrence V. Prekopa, 67, of 331 W. Sherman St., McAdoo, died Tuesday in the Hazleton General Hospital. He was the husband of Theresa (Bonafair) Prekopa. They were married for 45 years.
He was a mason before retiring and once worked at the Allentown State Hospital.
Born in McAdoo, he was a son of the late Andrew and Anna (Lorko) Prekopa.
He as a member of St. Mary Church of the Assumption, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6708 and American Legion Post 76, all of McAdoo, and the McAdoo Fire Company.
Prekopa served in the Army during the Korean Conflict.
He sang the national anthem at McAdoo sporting events.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son Lawrence of Allentown; four daughters, Diane, wife of Lawrence Consoli of Summit Hill, Denise and Andrea, wife of James DeLucca, both of Hazleton, and Theresa, wife of Joseph Madochick of McAdoo; three sisters, Mrs. Nicholas (Ann) Voneumann of Middlebrook, Mrs. John (Susan) Honysey of South Sandwich, Mass., and Mrs. Ernest (Vera) McGinnis of Bridgeport, Conn.; a brother Joseph of McAdoo; and seven grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Enama and Helen Mislitski.
Evelyn Peschel
Evelyn (Keck) Peschel, of 3720 37th Street, St. Petersburg, Florida, formerly of Jim Thorpe, died November 29 in her home.
She was the widow of Gordon Peschel.
Survivors include a daughter, Norma Byrd of St. Petersburg, two sisters, Judith Weaver and Helen Keck, both of Jim Thorpe, two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Connie Lou Reese
Connie Lou Reese, 42, of Cincinnati, Ohio, died Monday morning in the Northwest Ohio Hospice In Patient Unit, Perrysburg, Ohio.
She was a veterinary technician at the Colerain Animal Hospital, Cincinnati.
Born in Findlay, Ohio, she was a daughter of Mrs. Helen L. (Zuercher) Reese and the late Calvin R. Reese.
She attended Findlay schools and graduated from Tamaqua Area High School and the Schuylkill L.P.N. School.
Surviving are a brother, Raymond A. of Pawtucket, R.I.; a sister, Mrs. James (Colleen M.) Twilbeck of Monterey, La.; and her maternal grandmother, Leona Zuercher of Benton Ridge, Ohio.
