Mary Ellen Cashin
Mary Ellen Cashin, 83, of 3012 McKee Road, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 1998, at her residence.
She was born in Yonkers, N.Y., June 22, 1914, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James McIntyre. She attended Sacred Heart Grade School in Yonkers, and had been a weaver with Alexander-Smith Carpet Co. in New York. She loved cooking and was an avid reader.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Theresa Haines.
She is survived by a son, Robert Cashin of Erie; two brothers, James McIntyre II of Yonkers and John McIntyre of Syracuse, N.Y.; and three sisters, Frances McGrath of Yonkers, Catherine Nelsen of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Margaret Miller of Garnerville, N.Y.
Friends may call at the Burton West Lake Funeral Home, 3816 West Lake Road, today from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. and may attend a service there Monday at 10 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Julia Church, 638 Roslyn Ave., at 10:30.
Burial will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Box 3704, Memphis, Tenn. 38103.
January 24, 1998
Leo J. Gehrlein
Leo J. Gehrlein, 77, of 1844 W. 37th St., died Thursday, Jan. 22, 1998, at Fairview Manor Nursing Home.
He was born in Erie, Sept. 18, 1920, a son of the late Joseph and Mary Gleichsner Gehrlein.
Mr. Gehrlein, who was a 1939 graduate of Strong Vincent High School, worked for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board for 23 years as a store manager, retiring in 1982. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, a member of the Knights of St. John and a former member of the Sacred Heart Ushers Club. He enjoyed gardening and playing bingo.
He was preceded in death by a great-grandchild, Alex Bugenhagen, in May 1997; and three sisters, Margaret and Eleanor Gehrlein and Marian Palmer.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Florence Drexler Gehrlein; four daughters, Mrs. John (Mary Margaret) Kovski of Fairview, Mrs. Lynda Manczka and Mrs. Gerald (Susan) Feige, both of Erie, and Mrs. Craig (Laurie) Zgraggen of Corpus Christi, Texas; a son, William Gehrlein of Erie; a sister, Mrs. Joseph (Rosemary) Klutz of Fairview; 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Friends may call at Francis V. Kloecker Funeral Home, W. 25th and Sassafras streets, Monday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. and may attend a service there Tuesday at 9:15 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church at 10 a.m.
Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.
January 24, 1998
Jean F. Eisert
Jean F. Eisert, 38, of Cleveland, Ohio, and formerly of Harborcreek, died Friday, Jan. 23, 1998, at Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland.
He was born in Erie, July 26, 1959, a son of Winifred Evans Eisert of Harborcreek and the late Jerome "Jerry" Eisert.
He was a 1978 graduate of Harbor Creek High School and attended Mercyhurst and St. Francis colleges, majoring in history and theater arts. He was well-known in the Erie area as an actor and had appeared in several local stage productions. He was also a musician. He played piano, trombone, oboe, bass violin and organ. He had been organist at Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic Church in Harborcreek and was organist and choirmaster at St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church in Erie. He was a historian for Harborcreek, where he did a lot of research on local landmarks and families.
From 1977 to 1991 he worked at the Warner Theatre, where he served in many capacities, including box office, doorman, usher, concession, and director of maintenance. He also served as a tour guide, played the organ before films in the Summer Classics Series and was director and supervisor for Warner fund raisers, such as Dr. Shocks, held at the old Sears Building. He oversaw several Warner restoration projects, including restoration of the ceiling in the Grand Lobby of the Warner.
He was a member of Alpha Psi Omega, national drama fraternity, the American Theatre Historical Society, American Theatre Organ Society and the National League of Historic Theatres. His hobbies included antiques, furniture refinishing, photography and genealogy. At the time of his death, he worked for the Organist Guild in Cleveland.
Besides his mother, he is survived by four sisters, Mary Lou Hopkins and her husband John of North East, Sandra Morgan and her husband Chuck of Harborcreek, Cherryl Jones and her husband Gary of North East, and Patrice Yochim and her husband Bill of Albion; three brothers, Gerald Eisert and his wife Millie of Chantilly, Va., Michael Eisert and his wife Carol of Silver Spring, Md., and Timothy Eisert and his wife Mary of Harborcreek; his close friend and partner, Joseph J. Collins of Cleveland; and several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Friends may call at the William D. Elkin Funeral Home, 65 S. Lake St., North East, this evening from 7 to 9 and Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and may attend a service there Tuesday at 10:15 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Mercy Church at 11.
Burial will be in Wales Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Warner Theatre Trust Fund, the Erie Playhouse or the Harborcreek Historical Society.
January 24, 1998
Mabel Gibbens Vaughn
Mabel B. Gibbens Vaughn, 93, of Erie, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 1998, at Presbyterian Lodge.
She was born Aug. 23, 1904, in Townville, Crawford County, daughter of the late John Gibbens and the late Prudence Howard Gibbens Pratt.
A lifelong resident of the Erie area, Mrs. Vaughn was a caregiver for many people over the years. She was a saleswoman at Fischer's Clothing for eight years, worked at General Electric Co. as an assembler, worked in the kitchens of Erie Resistor Corp. and Saint Vincent Health Center and did housekeeping at Erie Osteopathic Hospital.
She was a Methodist.
She enjoyed playing the violin and piano, reading, crossword and jigsaw puzzles and playing cards.
She was preceded in death by her husband, David R. Vaughn, in 1942; a daughter, Lucy Vaughn Hackenberg, in 1997; a grandson, Mark Hackenberg, in 1975; and a brother, Merle Gibbens, in 1988.
She is survived by a son, James D. Vaughn of Erie and his wife, Shirley; two brothers, Wilbur Gibbens of Erie and Claude Pratt of Millcreek Township and his wife, Betty; 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at Scott Funeral Home, W. 21st and Myrtle streets, Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A service will be held there Monday at 11 a.m., conducted by David Hackenberg, grandson of Mrs. Vaughn.
Burial will be at Erie Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Erie Branch, 2115 W. 38th St., Erie, PA 16508.
January 23, 1998
Kathryn Chauncy Kneidinger Strong
Kathryn P. Chauncy Kneidinger Strong, 86, of 1613 Hilborn Ave., Millcreek Township, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 1998, at IHS of Erie at Bayside.
She was born Aug. 23, 1911, in Butler, daughter of the late Amber and Clara Pinney Chauncy.
Mrs. Strong, who lived in Erie all her life, was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Felix Kneidinger, on Sept. 13, 1975; and a stepdaughter, Barbara L. Morgan.
She is survived by her husband of 20 years, James W. Strong; a daughter, Arlene Sitter of Millcreek and her husband, Frederick; a stepson, David J. Strong of Erie; three grandchildren, Mark, Christopher and Kathryn Sitter; and a great-granddaughter.
Friends may call at John Mark Gannon Funeral Home, 2505 Powell Ave., Millcreek, on Saturday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. A service will be held there Monday at 10 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Bruce Sabados, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church.
Burial will be at Laurel Hill Cemetery.
January 23, 1998
William D. Lewis Sr.
EDGEWATER, Fla. - William D. Lewis Sr., 69, of Edgewater, died at his home Wednesday, Jan. 21, 1998.
He was born in Erie and moved to Edgewater in 1990 from Ripley, N.Y.
Mr. Lewis owned and ran Bill Lewis & Sons Welding Co., retiring in 1975.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and was a member of VFW Post 4789 in North East and American Legion Post 17 in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
He also was a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 4242 in Edgewater. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Florence A. Lewis; his stepmother, Barbara Lewis of Punta Gorda, Fla.; two sons, William D. Lewis of Ripley and Tracy L. Lewis of North East; three daughters, Susan D. Tharp of West Lawn, Pa., Tina Marie Lewis of Jamestown, N.Y., and Teri A. Holsinger of Harborcreek Township; a brother, Gerald Lewis of North East; three sisters, Joan Wilson of Casa Grande, Ariz., Janet Leslie of Cambridge Springs and Linda King of North East.
The Volusia County Cremation Society was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Volusia Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FLA 32119.
January 23, 1998
Stella Donikowski Slupski
Stella Donikowski Slupski, 86, of Fairview Manor, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 1998.
She was born Nov. 21, 1911, in Erie, daughter of the late Dominick and Antoinette Janczewski Donikowski.
Mrs. Slupski formerly worked for Lovell Manufacturing Co.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Slupski, and two sisters, Clara Wicks and Rose M. Pruzenski.
She is survived by a daughter, Shirley Froehlich of Erie and her husband, Kenneth Froehlich Sr.; four sons, Richard Slupski and his wife, Janet, Paul Slupski and his wife, Debbie, Harry Slupski and Stanley Slupski and his wife, Kathy, all of Erie; two brothers, Joseph and Chester Donikowski, both of Erie; 20 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at Edward J. Garr Funeral Home, 459 E. 12th St., on Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A service will be held there Monday at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church at 10 a.m.
Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 110 W. 10th St., Suite 212, Erie, PA 16501.
January 23, 1998
Raymond G. Sontheimer Jr.
PALM HARBOR, Fla. - Raymond G. Sontheimer Jr., 47, of St. Petersburg, Fla., formerly of Erie, died at his home Wednesday, Jan. 21, 1998.
He was born April 7, 1950, in Erie, son of Raymond G. and Violet Sontheimer Sr. of Waterford.
Mr. Sontheimer served in the U.S. Army and was an Erie police officer for 18 years, moving to St. Petersburg from Erie. He was a construction laborer.
Mr. Sontheimer was a martial arts enthusiast and founded the American Martial Arts Institute. He was a Taoist.
In addition to his parents, survivors include his wife, Deborah Vance Sontheimer; a daughter, Kelly Sontheimer of Erie; a son, Raymond G. Sontheimer III of Erie; a sister, Patty Boblentz of Union City; and two nephews.
Abbey Parklawn Funeral Home in Palm Harbor was in charge of arrangements.
January 23, 1998
