Obituaries by LocationJanuary 30, 1997
Donald D. Kurutz
Donald D. Kurutz, 32, of 153 Brentwood Circle, Bath, died Tuesday in the Muhlenberg Hospital Center, Bethlehem. He was the husband of Lisa (Demko) Kurutz. They observed their 11th wedding anniversary in July.
He was a self-employed vendor in the Lehigh Valley.
Born in Kingston, Luzerne County, he was a son of Donald Kurutz of Kingston and Billie Jean (Behrens) Kurutz of Germansville.
The deceased was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bath.
Surviving in addition to his widow and parents are a son Nicholas and a daughter Amanda, both at home; and his stepfather, George Kolesar of Germansville.
Mrs. Eva M. Waylen
Mrs. Eva M. Waylen, 77, of Trout Creek Apartments, 425 Kuntz St., Slatington, died Wednesday in the Palmerton Hospital. She was the widow of Willard W. Waylen, who died April 21, 1974.
She was a floor worker for the former DeVille Blouse Factory, Danielsville, before retiring.
Born in Carbon County, she was a daughter of the late Casmus and Lucretia (Anthony) Furry.
She was a member of Hope Lutheran Church, Cherryville, Lehigh Township, where she was former secretary of the Lutheran Church Women.
Mrs. Waylen also served as secretary of the Tenants Association of Trout Creek Apartments.
Surviving are a son, Kermit W. of Slatington; four daughters, Myrtle E.K. Weaver and Elaine M. Kirchner, both of Walnutport, Eleanor E. Nierer of Trexlertown and JoAnne J. of Largo, Fla.; a sister, Nellie M. Krock of Slatington; 12 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a grandchild and nine brothers, Earl, Penrose, Archie, Lester, Forrest, Foster, Clarence, Casmus and LeRoy.
Thomas J. Stone
Thomas J. Stone, 62, of Blakeslee, died Wednesday in his home. He was the husband of Janet (Fuges) Stone.
He was a policeman in Philadelphia for 25 years before retiring in 1982.
Born in Philadelphia, he was a son of the late Thomas and Ethel (Haines) Stone.
He was of the Catholic faith.
Stone was an Air Force veteran and a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and the American Association of Retired Persons.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son Thomas of Mount Effort; four daughters, Karen Anspach and Susan Staniskas, both of Philadelphia, Sharon of Blakeslee and Kimberly Mullen of Waterford, N.J.; two sisters, Ethel Schaffer and Doris Winters, both of South Philadelphia; and 12 grandchildren.
The Kresge Funeral Home, Brodheadsville, is in charge of the arrangements.
Ernest C. Borger
Ernest C. Borger, 86, of 3380 Little Gap Road, Palmerton, died Wednesday in his home. He was the husband of Eva M. (Gower) Borger.
He worked for the former New Jersey Zinc Company, Palmerton, for 42 years before retiring in 1974.
Born in Kresgeville, he was a son of the late Richard and Elmira (Frable) Borger.
He was of the Reformed faith.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son, Leon R. of Palmerton; two sisters, Mrs. Grace Strohl of Palmerton and Mrs. Gladys Cseh in South Carolina; four brothers, Allen of Sciota, Woodrow of Palmerton, Willard of Lehighton, and Martin in South Carolina; two granddaughters and two great-grandchildren.
The Thomas K. Thomas Funeral Home, 145 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Karl A.H. Krause
Mrs. Evelyn M. Krause, 80, of New Ringgold R.1, died Wednesday in her home. She was the wife of Karl A.H. Krause. They observed their 58th wedding anniversary on Jan. 11.
She was a food service director for the Tamaqua Area School District for 15 years before retiring in 1978.
Born in Sugarloaf, Luzerne County, she was a daughter of the late Clarence and Myrtle (Adams) Miller.
She was a member of the Lutheran congregation of Zion Union Stone Church, New Ringgold R.2; Pilgrim Chapter No. 137, Order of Eastern Star, Tamaqua; and the Pocahontas Council No. 8, Ladies Association to the Order of Independent Americans, Tamaqua R.3.
Mrs. Krause was a 1934 graduate of the former West Hazleton High School.
Surviving in addition to her husband are a daughter, Ruth Matruder Smythe, wife of Donald Smythe of Millsboro, Del.; two sons, Robert F. of Orwigsburg R.1 and Richard K. of Palmerton; a sister Ruth, wife of Herbert Braun of Tucson, Ariz.; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a brother Charles.
The Robert S. Nester Funeral Home, Rt. 309, Snyders, is in charge of the arrangements.
Haydn F. Evans
Haydn F. Evans, 79, of 622 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, died suddenly on Wednesday in the Good Samaritan Hospital, Pottsville. He was the husband of Lois (Tentinger) Evans.
He was a mechanic at the Atlas Powder Company, Reynolds, Tamaqua R.3, before retiring.
Born in Tamaqua, he was a son of the late Frank and Ruth (Evans) Evans.
He was a member of Primitive Methodist Church, Tamaqua.
Evans was a member of the Tamaqua Elks Lodge, where he was a Past Exalted Ruler and a Grand Lodge committeeman, a past district deputy and former state president of the Pennsylvania Elks.
Evans served as chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee of Tamaqua since its inception to the president.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a daughter, Mrs. Linda Whitehead of York; and two granddaughters.
The Roche Funeral Home, 237 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Jane Sassaman
Mrs. Jane Sassaman, 77, of 324 Rowe St., Tamaqua, died Wednesday in her home. She was the widow of Luther Sassaman, who died in 1988.
Born in Tamaqua, she was a daughter of the late George L. and Cora (Wetterau) Meredith.
She was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Tamaqua.
Mrs. Sassaman was a graduate of Tamaqua High School.
Surviving are two sons, Rick of Hometown and Gary of Pittsburgh; two brothers, John of Tamaqua and Louis in New Jersey; and three grandchildren.
The Lamar Christ Funeral Home, Hometown, is in charge of the arrangements.
Carl H. Frey
Carl H. Frey, 70, of Germansville, died Wednesday in his home. He was the husband of the late Betty Jean (Brown) Frey, who died in November.
He was a diesel mechanic for the former Lehigh Valley Transit Company, Allentown, for 32 years before retiring in 1976.
Born in Maxatawny, he was a son of the late George and Myrtle (Burkert) Frey.
He was a member of the Lutheran congregation of Heidelberg Union Church, Slatington.
Surviving are a daughter, Faye L., wife of Anthony A. Manalio of Bridgewater, N.J.; five sisters, Hilda Delp of Germansville and Helen Schmick, Beatrice, wife of Joseph Picchio, Arlene Janny and Katie Bear, all of Allentown; and a grandson.
Mrs. Mary I. Serfass
Mrs. Mary I. Serfass, 84, of Saylorsburg, died Tuesday in the Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington, N.J. She was the widow of Anson G. Serfass.
A member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, she was a seamstress at area blouse mills for about 50 years before retiring in 1974.
Born in Ross Township, she was a daughter of the late Jennie (Buskirk) Fuge and a stepdaughter of the late Albert Fuge.
She was a member of Hope United Church of Christ, Wind Gap.
Surviving are a sister, Kathryn Nace of Jutland, N.J.; and nieces and nephews.
The Kresge Funeral Home, Rt. 209, Brodheadsville, is in charge of the arrangements.
Edward F. Strohl
Edward F. Strohl, 64, of 80 Taylor St., Washington, N.J., a Mauch Chunk native, died Tuesday in his home. He was the husband of Ann (White) Strohl.
He worked as a milk inspector for the Port Murray and Tuscon Dairies in New Jersey, retiring last year.
A son of the late Herbert and Alberta (Martienssen) Strohl, he was a graduate of the former Mauch Chunk High School and an Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict.
He was of the Catholic faith.
In Washington, he served on the town council for three years and was mayor of the community one year. He was also active in the town fire company and was the former commander of the American Legion Post.
Surviving in addition to his widow are two sons, Raymond of Neshanic Station, N.J., and Douglass or Reading; two daughters, Mary Ann of Belvidere, N.J., and Joanie, at home; a brother Robert of Jim Thorpe; 12 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
He was also preceded in death by a brother Herbert.
Funeral services will be held in Washington.
Mrs. Milton Hoffman
Mrs. Belva Hoffman, 70, of Stagecoach Road, Weatherly R.2, died Tuesday afternoon in the Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. She was the wife of Milton Hoffman. They were married for 53 years.
Before retiring, she was a sewing machine operator in Weatherly and Tresckow, and, more recently, was a teacher's aide at the Wyoming Valley SDA Church School, Mountaintop.
Born in Bridgeport, near White Haven, she was a daughter of the late Victor and Minnie (Schoch) Fairchild.
She was a member of the Slocum Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Wapwallopen.
Surviving in addition to her husband are the following children, Nita, Kip and Doug, all of Weatherly R.2, Vicki, wife of Wayne Winters of Weatherly R.1, Fern Regan of Denver, Colo., and Wanda, wife of Thomas Corbin of Winfield; two sisters, Mrs. Willard (Mildred) Hoffman of Weatherly R.2 and Mrs. Joseph (Leafa) Carroul of Pennsauken, N.J.; a brother Lester of Weatherly R.2; seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Colette R. Wagner
Colette R. Wagner, 79, of 324 North Avenue, Jim Thorpe, died Wednesday at her residence. She was the widow of David Y. Wagner, who died in 1988.
Born in Lehighton, she was a daughter of the late Louis and Margaret (Stehling) Spaar.
She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church, Jim Thorpe.
She had been employed as a hand sewer for the former Maryann Mfg. of Jim Thorpe until she retired.
Surviving is a son, Michael, of Altoona, a sister, Delores, wife of John C. Wehr of Lehighton, and two grandsons.
The Andrew P. Ovsak Funeral Home, Fourth and Iron Streets, Lehighton, is in charge of arrangements.
