Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Michael N. Mikulka
Michael N. Mikulka, 71, of 408 Bridge St., Weissport, died Sunday in Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital, Lehighton. He was the husband of the late Joan (Outlaw) Mikulka, who died in 1994.
Born in Lansford, he was a son of the late Michael and Rose (Sharabach) Mikulka.
He was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Lehighton.
He is survived by a son, Robert of Cherry Hill; four brothers, Stephen of New York, N.Y., John and Paul, both of the Bronx, N.Y. and Robert of Lansford; six sisters, Catherine Pavlick of Lansford, Helen Maredeo of Nesquehoning, Anna Mikulka of Richfield, N.J., Margaret Lannie of the Bronx, N.Y., Mary Gaza of Lansford and Ann Bennett of Tamaqua; and two grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Bertha Johnson Seldon and Julia Gavoin.
The Holmes-Griffiths Funeral Home, 200 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Arlene M. Ahner
Mrs. Arlene M. Ahner, 77, who resided with her daughter, Rose Ann Horack of 150 Beech St., Franklin Township, died Monday in the Palmerton Hospital. She was the widow of Arthur R. Ahner, who died in 1987.
Born in Coalport, she was a daughter of the late John and Rose Ann (Leindecker) Searfoss.
She was a member of the Sonlife Full-Gospel Fellowship, Palmerton.
Surviving are two daughters, Rose Ann and Kay, wife of Raymond Gruber, and a son, Arthur L., all of Franklin Township; a sister, Lorraine Confer of Slatington; two brothers, Warren and Marvin, both of Jim Thorpe; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by three sisters, Gertrude Hadinger, Mrs Irene Pursley and Mrs. Joan Pavlick; and three brothers, Robert, George and Irvin.
The Mayes-Melber Funeral Home, 200 Franklin St., Weissport, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Eleanor M. Lauer
Mrs. Eleanor M. Lauer, 83, of 118 Pitt St., Tamaqua, died Monday in the Hometown Nursing Center, Tamaqua R.2. She was the widow of William F. Lauer, who died in 1968.
Born in Tamaqua, she was a daughter of the late Robert and Hettie (Berger) Gerber.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Tamaqua, and the Pocohontas Lodge.
Surviving are a daughter Shirley, wife of Thomas Milot of Tamaqua; a son Richard of Midland, Mich.; a brother, Morris ³Hap² of Tamaqua; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a son Robert, who died in 1994, and a brother George.
The Jon M. Zizelmann Funeral Home, 500 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Helen V. Strohl
Mrs. Helen V. Strohl, 79, of 745 Spruce Hollow Road, Palmerton, died Tuesday in her home. She was the widow of Harvey L. Strohl.
Born in Howertown, Northampton County, she was a daughter of the late Oscar and Maryann (Eckhart) Redline.
She was a member of Jerusalem United Church of Christ, Palmerton, and the Palmerton Rod and Gun Club.
Surviving are a daughter Loretta, wife of Kenneth L. George of Palmerton; three brothers, Roy of Walnutport and Ernest and William, both of Slatington; six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a daughter Dorothy.
The Campton Funeral Home, 525 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Eugene B. Bickelman
Eugene B. Bickelman, 73, of 403 Rolling Mill Ave., Tamaqua, died Monday in his home.
The Jon M. Zizelmann Funeral Home, 500 E. Brioad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of the arrangements.
George A. Dietrich Jr.
George A. Dietrich Jr., 70, of Kunkletown, died Monday in his home. He was the husband of Virginia Keller.
He was a truck driver for Halls Motor Transport, Kutztown, for 34 years before retiring in 1983.
Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late George A. Sr. and Anna M. (Bickley) Dietrich.
He was of the Presbyterian faith.
Dietrich was a life member of Teamsters Union Local 429, Allentown.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son, George A. III, and a brother Roderick, both of Allentown; and four grandchildren.
The Kresge Funeral Home, Rt. 209, Brodheadsville, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Verna J. Shupp
Mrs. Verna J. Shupp, 84, of Effort R.1, died Monday in her home. She was the widow of Martin Shupp.
She was a seamstress for Better Made Manufacturing Company, Effort, for 30 years before retiring in 1978.
Born in Kresgeville, she was a daughter of the late David and Ida (Green) Haydt.
She was of the Lutheran faith.
Surviving are three sons, Dale of Tobyhanna, William of Brodheadsville and Robert of Jonas; a daughter, Dorothy Wenzel of Effort; two brothers, Robert of Kresgeville and Clark of Appleton, Minn.; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by two sons, Gene and Glenn.
The Kresge Funeral Home, Rt. 209, Brodheadsville, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Margaret R. Prentice
Mrs. Margaret R. Prentice, 81, formerly of Lehighton, died Saturday in the Scallop Shell Nursing Home, Peace Dale, R.I. She was the widow of Thomas H. Prentice.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, she was a daughter of the late William and Margaret (Drysdale) Redpath.
She was a member of the Episcopal Church of Lehighton.
Surviving are a daughter, Margaret Butler of Saunderston, R.I.; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Lamont H. Brown
Lamont H. Brown, 74, of 115 Bankway St., Lehighton, died Monday in the Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital, Lehighton. He was the husband of the late Margaret (Taney) Brown.
He was a pallet and machine operator for Eichler¹s Wood Products, Laurys Station, for 17 years before retiring in 1984, and previously had worked for the former Lehigh Valley Railroad.
Born in lehighton, he was a son of the late William and Leona (Fronheiser) Brown.
He was a member of the East Penn Sporting Club and the Beaver Run Rod and Gun Club.
Surviving are a daughter Donna, with whom he resided; and two brothers, Richard and Dawson, and two sisters, Frances, wife of Jacob Bretz, and Phyllis, wife of Edward Wassmer, all of Lehighton.
The Richard M. Miller Funeral Home, 137 Fairview St., Union Hill, Lehighton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Dr. Simon A. Horkowitz III
Dr. Simon A. Horkowitz III, 71, of Emmaus, died Saturday in the Miners Memorial Medical Center, Coaldale. He was the husband of Dr. Mary (Dobosiewicz) Horkowitz.
A dentist, he opened a private practice in Allentown in 1953 and, in 1976, formed a partnership with Dr. William Gross as Fairmont Dental Associates, 1414 Fairmont St., Allentown. The deceased graduated in 1989.
He attended the University of Nebraska from 1946-48, studying mechanical engineering, and earned his doctorate of dental surgery degree in 1952 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. From 1942-43, he worked for the former Lehigh Navigation and Coal Company.
Active in the public and dental community, he did voluntary clinical work in the dental department of the former Allentown Hospital, and was chairman of the patient relations committee and the constitution and bylaws committee of the Lehigh County Dental Society. He was also a dental consultant to the Lehigh County Board of Assistance.
Dr. Horkowitz was president of the Lehigh County Dental Society, 1964-65; president of the 2nd District Dental Association, 1969-70; and served as secretary, trustee and president of the Pennsylvania Dental Association since 1952. A director of the Pennsylvania Dental Political Action Committee, he formed the professionalism and ethics committee, and chaired the PDA¹s law enfoorcement committee, program committee and was a member of the PDA¹s board of censors.
On the national level, he was a delegate to the annual session of the American Dental Association, 1968-70, and served on the ADA Commission on disaster and relief funds for five years.
The deceased also served on the Academy of General Dentistry as director and state president, and sat on the board of the National Council on Dental Care. He was a Fellow of the AGD, the International College of Dentists, the American College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.
Dr. Horkowitz received the Pierre Fauchard Academy¹s annual award; was named Dentist of the Year by the St. Apollonia Society for Catholic Dentists; and was the 1995 PDA annual award recipient for his dedication to the principles of professionalism and ethics.
Born in Lansford, he was a son of the late Simon A. and Leshefka (Horkovic) Horkowitz.
He was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church, Emmaus, where he was a Eucharistic minister, teacher for the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, head of the liturgy committee, lector commentator and a member of the Allentown Cursillo community. He also ministered services one Sunday a month at Mountain View Manor, Allentown.
Dr. Horkowitz was an Army veteran of World War II, having served as a staff sergeant in Company L, 263rd Infantry, Panther Division, and chief clerk in Eisenhower's headquarters from 1943 until his discharge in 1946.
He served on the Governor's Health Task Force for two years and was a member of the committee on health fraud with the Pennsylvania Health Council. He was a consultant for 15 years for the Lehigh County Board of Assistance and also held committee positions with the Boy Scouts of America and for 15 years with the Kiwanis.
He was head of the 1964 Lehigh County United Way fund drive dental team, an Eagle Scout, and a member and vice president of the Bethlehem Palette Club.
Surviving in addition to his widow are two daughters, Marylu, wife of Dr. William Newman of Riegelsville, and Dr. Carol A. Horkowitz, wife of Constantine Tsaoussis of South Miami, Fla.; a son, Dr. John P. of Midland, Tex.; two brothers, S. Peter of Metairie, La., and Dr. Gabriel of Carlisle, Cumberland County; a sister Eleanore, wife of Joseph Carlin of Bryn Mawr; and a grandson.
Mrs. Phyllis Neifert
Mrs. Phyllis Elizabeth Neifert, 88, of Port Clinton, Schuylkill County, died Monday in the Good Samaritan Hospital, Pottsville. She was the wife of the late Lester A. Neifert.
Born in Delano, she was a daughter of the late William R. and Tillie (Gibson) Riddle.
Surviving are a son William of Molino, with whom she resided; two sisters, Mrs. Gordon (Marion) Bennett and Peg Jones, and a stepbrother, Donald Ritter, all of Quakake; a grandson and two great-grandsons.
The Lamar Christ Funeral Home, Hometown, is in charge of the arrangements.
Joseph E. Dean
Joseph E. Dean, 75, of 431 W. Pine St., Frackville, died unexpectedly Sunday in his home. He was the husband of the late Amy (Wagner) Dean.
He was a miner in regional collieries and was last employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation at Pottsville for 10 years, retiring in 1983.
Born in Frackville, he was the son of the late Joseph and Sadie Dean.
He was of the Protestant faith and resided in Frackville his entire life.
He was a Army veteran of World War II.
Surviving are a son, Richard S. of Lehighton; a daughter, Janet Evans of Middletown; two sisters, Irene Miller of Helfenstein and Doris Schaeffer of Bethlehem; four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
