Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Mrs. Anna M. Chuckran
Mrs. Anna M. Chuckran, 88, of 17 E. Water St., Lansford, died Saturday in the Hometown Nursing Center, Tamaqua R.2. She was the widow of Frank Chuckran.
Born in Reading, she was a daughter of the late John and Anna (Posta) Slaskowski.
She was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church, Lansford, and the First Ladies Slovak Union.
Surviving are two sons, Martin of Nutley, N.J., and Thomas of Bethpage, Long Island, N.Y.; a daughter, Gloria Zollier of Hollywood, Fla.; a sister Olga of Reading; and 12 grandchildren.
The Skrabak-Parambo Funeral Home, 210 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, is in charge of the arrangements.
Walter J. Henry
Walter J. "Rafter" Henry, 89, of Nazareth, died Saturday in the Muhlenberg Hospital Center, Bethlehem.
He was a first helper in the No. 1 open hearth of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation before retiring in 1964, and previously had been a weaver for the former Zales Silk Mill, East Mauch Chunk.
Born in East Mauch Chunk, he was a son of the late John and Adulgunda (Binder) Henry.
He was known locally for his horticultural expertise and had won several prizes over the years. He was an avid bird hunter and fisherman, having tied his own flies and flies for several sporting goods stores.
The last member of his immediate family, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Margaret Kocsis, Ann Bechtel and Catherine Burns; and four brothers, Carl, John, Frank and Thomas.
The Edward F. Melber Funeral Home, 524 Center St., Jim Thorpe, is in charge of the arrangements.
Russell W. Wieand
Russell W. Wieand, 45, of 3110 Little Gap Road, Palmerton, died Friday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township.
He owned and operated William Russell Cleaning, Palmerton, for the last seven years, and previously had worked for Kraft Foods, Fogelsville, for three years.
Born in Allentown, he was a son of Clayton R. and Mary E. (Ruch) Wieand of Walnutport.
The deceased was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ of Indianland, Cherryville.
He was a graduate of Allentown Business College with an associate degree in accounting.
Wieand served in the Air Force.
Surviving in addition to his parents are two sisters, Wanda A., wife of William Buss Jr. of Northampton, and Audrey, wife of Donald D. Troxell of Coudersport, Pa.; two nieces and a nephew.
He was also preceded in death by a brother Mark, who died in 1988.
Thomas Petri
Thomas Franklin "Pete" Petri, 63, of Keller, Tex., died Friday in North Richland Hills, Tex. He was the husband of Betty Petri.
Before retiring, he was employed as a mechanic with American Airlines for 30 years.
He was born in Hazleton and was an Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict.
Among his survivors is a sister, Rachael V. Gilbert of Barnesville.
John R. Beecroft Sr.
John R. Beecroft Sr., 68, of 153 N. Second St., Frackville, died unexpectedly on Friday in his home.
He was employed as a roofer for Matsell Roofing, Frackville, and as a bartender at the former Gurkas Tavern, Frackville.
Born in Frackville, he was a son of the late Robert and Ethel (Temple) Beecroft.
He was a member of the Frackville Elks and Friendship Fire Company of Englewood, Frackville.
Surviving are three sons, Gary of Coal Township, John of Danville and Jeffrey of Lehighton; three daughters, Stephanie Brobst of Lehighton, Mary Weiss of Center Valley and Roberta Cierlitsky of Winslow, Ariz.; three brothers, Harry and Joseph, both of Frackville, and James of Duncannon; five grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
William M. Eade
William M. Eade, 76, of East Penn Plaza, 2643 Broad St., Emmaus, died Saturday in ManorCare Health Services, Salisbury Township. He was the husband of the late Joan (Henderson) Eade.
He was a sales representative for Bob's Distributor, Malco Automotive Chemical, Emmaus, for many years before retiring in 1983, and was formerly a printer for the National Advertising Manufacturing Company, Allentown, until retiring in 1975.
Born in Lansford, he was a son of the late Joseph J. and Mattie H. (Brower) Eade.
He was a former Sunday school superintendent at St. Jude and Nativity Episcopal Church, Lafayette Hills, Montgomery County, and St. Margaret Episcopal Church, Emmaus.
Eade was an Army veteran of World War II.
Surviving are two sons, William J. of Emmaus and Robert G. of Macungie; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Mark T. Bowers
Mrs. Edith P. Wolfe Bowers, 70, of Allentown, died Friday in the Allentown Osteopathic Medical Center. She was the wife of Mark T. Bowers and the widow of Frank J. Wolfe Sr. She and her second husband observed their 27th wedding anniversary in October.
Born in Polk Township, she was a daughter of the late John E. and Cornelia L. (Heiney) Hawk.
She was a member of Emmaus Moravian Church.
Surviving in addition to her husband are two sons, David L. Wolfe of Fleetwood and William R. Wolfe, residence unknown; a daughter, Violet M., wife of Rick L. Yeager of Kempton; three sisters, Mrs. Eva Beitler of Schnecksville, Mabel, wife of Theodore German of Allentown, and Irene, wife of Charles J. Bendekovits of Coplay; and four grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a son, Cpl. Frank J. Jr.
Mrs. Antonio M. Picos
Mrs. Elinor M. Picos, 63, of 117 N. Sixth St., Coplay, died Friday in her home. She was the wife of Antonio M. Picos. They observed their 41st wedding anniversary last April.
She managed a nutrition center for the Lehigh County Area Agency on Aging for five years before retiring in 1995, and previously had worked for the former D & D Shirt Company, Northampton, for 20 years.
Born in Northampton, she was a daughter of the late William G. and Leila B. (Keller) Lerch.
She was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Coplay.
Among her survivors is a daughter, Ann M., wife of Donald Reader of New Tripoli.
George A. Lackner Sr.
George A. Lackner Sr., 78, of Whitehall Township, died Friday in the Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown. He was the husband of Irene A. (Leabold) Lackner. They observed their 58th wedding anniversary in November.
He was a welder for the Fuller Company, Catasauqua, before retiring in 1983 after 30 years of service.
Born in Coopersburg, he was a son of the late John and Leopoldine (Wissenetta) Lackner.
He was a life member of the Grouse Hall Fish and Game Association, Ironton.
Among his survivors is a daughter Marlene, wife of Scott Boeman of Gilbert.
Bruce A. Whetstone
Bruce A. Whetstone, 49, of Northridge, Calif., died Friday in the Northridge Memorial Hospital.
He was self-employed as a telephone installation and service repairman.
Born in Coaldale, he was a son of the late Elvin and Sadie (Wagner) Whetstone, and a stepson of Eleanor Whetstone of Tamaqua.
He was a former member of St. John United Church of Christ, Tamaqua.
A 1965 graduate of Tamaqua Area High School, he was a Navy veteran and also served in the Navy Reserves for 27 years, retiring in 1995 with the rank of RMI, USNR. Upon retiring, he received the Navy Achievement Medal.
He was a member of the American Legion Post, Reseda, Calif.
Surviving in addition to his stepmother are his fiancee, Monica Zepeda, with whom he resided; a son, Bruce A. Jr., and a daughter Megan, both of Mountaintop, Luzerne County; a brother, David E. of Connersville, Ind.; a sister Gladys, wife of Pat Morgans, a half-brother, Elvin "Bud" Whetstone, and a stepsister, Kathleen Nothstein, all of Tamaqua; a stepbrother, John Bachert of Lehighton; and a grandson.
Funeral services will be held this week in Reseda.
Frederick P. Weiser
Frederick P. Weiser, 60, of 403 S. Baltimore St., Dillsburg, York County, died Saturday in Newark, Del. He was the husband of the late Dorothy (Bruszo) Weiser, formerly of Nesquehoning.
He was employed by the Pennsylvania Department of State Museums, Harrisburg, working there in various capacities.
Born in Lebanon, he was a son of Mrs. Viola June (Hinkel) Weiser of Cleona, Pa., and the late Frederick P. Weiser.
Surviving in addition to his mother are four brothers, Gerald of Hummelstown, Eugene of West Lebanon, David of Lebanon and Donald of Fredericksburg, Lebanon County; two sisters, Sandra, wife of Nicholas Gardner, and Joan, wife of Frederick Diamond, both of Lebanon; and nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by a sister, Patricia Meyer.
The Bruce A. Nalesnik Funeral Home, 57 W. Center St., Nesquehoning, is in charge of the arrangements.
Francis Rajkowski
Francis Rajkowski, 72, of 257 Whitewater Road, New Ringgold, died Sunday in the Southeast Pennsylvania Veterans Center, Spring City, Montgomery County.
Prior to his retirement, he was an inhalation therapist at St. Christopher's Hospital, Philadelphia.
Born in Mahanoy City, he was the son of the late Frank and Anna (Katarsky) Rajkowski.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the Army.
He was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Tamaqua.
He is survived by a daughter, Alexandra, wife of Nelson Reyes of Philadelphia.
The Roche Funeral Home, 237 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of arrangements.
Rajkowski services
A memorial Mass for Francis Rajkowski, 72, of 257 Whitewater Road, New Ringgold, who died Sunday in the Southeast Pennsylvania Veterans Center, Spring City, Montgomery County, will be held at a later date in SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Tamaqua. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery, Owl Creek, Tamaqua.
The deceased was the former husband of 40 years of A. Patricia (Balcavage) Rajkowski.
The Roche Funeral Home, 237 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of the arrangements.
