Obituary Stories category, Page 34
Grandma ‘B’ Shindehite of Youngwood remembered for outgoing manner, devotion to church
Blissful weekends with their grandmother “B” Shindehite were the highlight of the week for sisters Amanda Pizzutelli-Herb and Stacy Shipley. They’d have a weekend-long sleepover full of the good stuff — a trip to the park, junk food, bike rides and movies. “Grandma B’s house was always so much fun,”...
Level Green veteran Joseph Katkowski remembered for life history
Joseph Katkowski spent most of World War II taking care of soldiers in France. And it didn’t matter if they were American or German soldiers. He was always there to help, his daughter Nancy Katkowski said. Spending two years overseas as an Army medical technician, Joseph Katkowski saw plenty of...
‘Muggs’ was known and loved throughout South Greensburg
If you lived in South Greensburg, odds are you knew Lawrence “Muggs” Collier. “He basically was South Greensburg, and he knew everybody in South Greensburg,” said his granddaughter, Amanda Lehman. Mr. Collier spent his career at the borough’s PPG Industries plant. He worked part-time tending the bar at South Greensburg...
Art Institute official filled life with music
Ellis Matthews already knew how to play bass, piano and saxophone when he decided to start taking clarinet lessons at the age of 85. “He was thrilled to be able to do that at this point in life, to see how far he could get with it,” said his daughter,...
‘Gentle giant’ was workplace mentor, life of the party
At age 65, Bill Marszalek could still easily bench press more than 200 pounds. A weightlifter from his teens who stood 6 feet, 2 inches tall, he cut an imposing figure. But, for those who knew him, his jovial personality, winning smile and concern for others are what really made...
Latrobe woman dedicated to taking care of others
When Marjorie L. Sigmund graduated from Latrobe High School in the midst of World War II, she did not have the opportunity to go to nursing school like she had wanted, but that did not stop her from helping others, said one of her nieces. “All during her life, she...
North Irwin Pepsi delivery man loved his job, people
Clifford Lee Bressler loved his job as a delivery man for Pepsi Co., serving grocery store owners with soft drinks from the company’s warehouse in the Pittsburgh suburb of McKees Rocks. “He loved people,” and loved going to the “mom and pop” grocery stores, where he would become friends with...
Robert F. Kennedy’s granddaughter Saoirse Hill dies at 22
A granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 while running for president, has died. Saoirse Kennedy Hill was 22. The Kennedy family confirmed the death in a statement Thursday night following reports that a person had been found unresponsive that day at the storied Kennedy compound in...
Greensburg woman remembered for love of acting, family
When Nancy Robbins gave birth to her daughter, she knew she wanted her name to stay in the family, but she didn’t want to stick her child with a junior at the end of her name. So instead, she changed the “y” in Nancy to an “i.” “One of her...
Level Green man still delivered Meals on Wheels at 92 years old
Robert Ketenheim never tired of volunteering and helping others. When he and his late wife Theo weren’t buying extra school supplies for children who couldn’t afford them, “he was out delivering Meals on Wheels, at 92, to the folks he called ‘the old people,’ ” said his son, Bob Ketenheim....
Saint Vincent monk was skilled mechanic, leading firefighter
Equipment breakdowns weren’t a problem for Brother Stephen Nazaruk. The Benedictine monk took charge in 1981 of the machine shop serving his community at Saint Vincent Archabbey and Saint Vincent College, and he continued to be involved at the shop on the Unity campus well into his 80s. “He had...
Latrobe man was active with hobbies, church
Mickey Repko’s life got swept up in the great drama of World War II when he enlisted in the Army on March 25, 1943. What little he said about his military service over the years suggested that by the time his unit arrived in Europe, most of the fighting was...
Mt. Pleasant woman, mother of 7, known for ‘can-do’ attitude
When the future Nellie Kalp was first chatting with Donald Kalp, the man who would become her husband, the pair passed a group of children playing baseball. A stray ball landed near her. Having played plenty of ball with her brothers, she didn’t give her response much thought. “She reached...
Export man enjoyed traveling, fishing and family
One of Dawn Lingafelt’s strongest memories about her father Ronald revolves around his love of fishing. “I remember him dragging us out of bed at 6 a.m. to dig worms out of the yard and put them in a coffee can before we’d go fishing,” Lingafelt said. Fishing was Mr....
Retired nurse stayed calm, saved lives in emergencies
Sandy Schweikarth kept her cool and took charge during emergencies that would cause others to panic. Even when she wasn’t on duty as a licensed practical nurse, others benefited from her know-how and skills. When daughter Shana Hudson was young, Schweikarth, though in the late stages of pregnancy with a...
Everybody who lived in Mt. Pleasant Borough knew Bill Gratzinger
There wasn’t a resident in Mt. Pleasant Borough who Bill Gratzinger didn’t know. Through his jobs as the town’s police chief and also as the head of the local volunteer fire department, Gratzinger made sure his neighbors were safe and protected. They were jobs he took seriously long after he...
Greensburg man remembered for love of newspapers, passion for life
When Dante Polla was a teenager, he would talk with the neighbors about what was happening in the community, write it up, print it out and hand out his own newspaper. His passion for newspapers followed him throughout his life, no matter what career he was in, and eventually led...
Fairfield man worked long hard hours, but always made time for family
Many of A.J. Liberoni’s childhood memories of her father, William Williams, are of how hard he worked to provide for his family. “He ran a bulldozer at the Conemaugh Generating Station, and he’s run it in freezing temperatures so he could provide for us,” said Liberoni, a Latrobe resident. “He...
Hempfield WWII veteran Joseph Churbock Sr. valued family
Joseph Churbock Sr. of Hempfield Township was part of the Greatest Generation of Americans, who served their country in war and came home to marry and raise a family. “He instilled the importance of family in us,” said his son, David Churbock of Hudson, Ohio. “He was always busy with...
Former Greensburg grocery co-owner was famous for classic cars
When Ellis G. Claar married Geraldine Waugaman, he married into the family business. He spent about 50 years as part owner and bookkeeper of Waugaman’s Market, a Greensburg grocery that remains beloved by longtime residents even though it’s been closed for more than 25 years. “It was a landmark,” said...
Irwin man created treasures from glass, good times with music
The glass Lee Jasper helped produce has gone around the world and beyond it. Before retiring as a scientific glassblower at the former Westinghouse research and development center in Churchill, the Irwin man “did a lot of interesting things,” daughter Wendy Bigelow said. “He helped with Spacelab and parts for...
Greensburg mailman remembered for time in service, love of family
R. Ronald Joseph had a knack for telling Greensburg residents where they lived. “His recall is phenomenal,” said his nephew, Rick Joseph. “He couldn’t wait to hear you were from Greensburg so he could ask what your name was and he could tell you where you lived.” Ronald Joseph spent...
Baggley woman remembered as caring person
Yvonne Schmucker was always helping someone else, no matter her own circumstances. And the Baggley, Unity Township, native raised her children, who all volunteer and work for various organizations, and grandchildren to be the same way. “We all have gotten that bug from my mother, just helping when we can...
Greensburg nurse ‘was always a friend to the underdog’
Carmella Neil helped found a church in Delmont, played violin, cared for thousands of people during her nursing career and made two trips to China in her 70s and 80s. “She was pure love, she was fair and she was always a friend to the underdog,” said her son, David...
Self-taught woodworker from Apollo enjoyed staying active, eating healthy
In 1921, when Donald Bayne was born, Warren G. Harding was president, the first religious radio broadcast aired on Pittsburgh’s KDKA, the first Miss America pageant was held in Atlantic City, N.J., and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was dedicated at Arlington National Cemetery. Mr. Bayne attributed his long...
