Sunday’s Obituary: Donna (Nahodil) Casper

Copyright: Lisa Haas 2015.
Donna Casper while visiting her mother at Traditions of Hershey.

On Tuesday night, November 8, 2022, Donna Jean (Nahodil) Casper of Kulpmont died at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

Donna was born on February 16, 1956 in Bristol Township to George and Alma (Strausser) Nahodil whom she loved dearly.

Kind, loving, and outgoing, Donna loved to talk and could have hour-long conversations with strangers she encountered along her travels. Donna loved all animals and was always quick to act when an animal was in need.  She enjoyed walking through cemeteries with her daughter on their pursuit to find ancestors and work on the family tree.

Donna is survived by a daughter, Lisa; two sons, George and William; grandchildren, Linda, George, and Michael; a brother, George; several nieces and nephews; cousins; and her beloved chihuahuas and turtle.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Earl; a sister, Linda (Turner), and a daughter, Nicole.

Donna will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Obituary was written by Lisa Haas on November 10, 2022. Published by https://www.kullfuneral.com/obituary/Donna-Casper on November 10, 2022.

Sunday’s Obituary: Alma Lareen (Strausser) Nahodil

Peggy Nahodil at Houlihan’s in Hershey, PA.

On the evening of Friday, October 28, 2022, Alma Lareen Nahodil died of natural causes at the age of 96.

Alma, known as Peggy, was born on March 17, 1926 in Coal Township to George and Ada Mae (Wetzel) Strausser. After her father’s death in 1927, her paternal uncle and his wife, Earl and Martha Mae (Bradigan) Strausser, raised little Peggy as their own.

Although Peggy was 14 when she learned Martha and Earl were her aunt and uncle, she always considered them to be her mom and dad and loved them dearly. In this family, she was raised with a sister, Vivian, and one brother, Earl.

Peggy knew and spent time with her biological family throughout her childhood, though she was uncertain as to their relationship until she turned 14. At this time, she moved from Coal Township to Philadelphia to live with her mother and siblings. Peggy was the youngest of eight children: Marlin, May, Thelma (Rothman), Leonard, Dorothy (Rothman), Robert, and Betty (Mullin).

On March 4, 1945, Peggy married George “Rudy” Nahodil at First Schwenkfelder Church in Philadelphia. Peggy and Rudy started their family in Philadelphia before moving to Levittown, PA in 1953. Their home in the Goldenridge section of Levittown would become the pride and joy of the family for nearly 50 years. The front door was always open to visitors wishing to stop by or stay for a while. Peggy loved visitors and the opportunity to feed them. With plenty of food, desserts, and other goodies, Peggy always made sure everyone left with a full stomach. Peggy and Rudy’s 55-year marriage came to an end when he died on October 19, 2000.

On March 14, 2006, Peggy married John Thompson in Virginia. Together, the couple traveled and enjoyed an active life. John died in 2011.

Peggy is survived by a daughter, Donna; a son, George; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and Linda Maurin, whose loving friendship spanned more than 60 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husbands, and two children, Earl and Linda (Turner).

Peggy spent her final years living at Palmyra Heritage House, where she was well cared for and loved by the staff who made sure Peggy was comfortable and her family had everything they needed while keeping vigil.

Obituary was written by Lisa Haas on October 29, 2022. Published by https://www.finkenbinderfamily.com/obituary/AlmaPeggy-Nahodil on October 31, 2022; https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/newsitem/name/alma-nahodil-obituary?id=36960034 and The News Item (Shamokin, Pennsylvania) on November 1, 2022.

Sunday’s Obituary – Landis Klinger

 

 

Obituary for Landis Klinger JR as published in The Philadelphia Inquirer on 06/07/1970.

Obituary for Landis Klinger JR as published in The Philadelphia Inquirer on 06/07/1970.

KLINGER
LANDIS, JR., on June 4, 1970, of 3042 W. Gordon St., beloved son of the late Landis and Laura Klinger and brother of Mrs. Mae Strausser; also survived by 3 nieces and 3 nephews.  RElatives, friends and employes of PNB are invited to the service Monday, 1 P.M., from the parlors of Harold B. Mulligan, 1119 W. Lehigh ave.  Int. Whitemarsh Memorial Park, Friends are invited Sunday eve., 7 to 9.

 

Landis was born on April 18, 1904 to Landis and Laura (Wetzel) Klinger.  Born in Philadelphia, he lived in the same house in the Strawberry Mansion section of the city throughout his entire life. Landis’ father died in 1941, his mother in 1965 and his younger brother Ralph died in 1962.  Mae (Wetzel) Strausser was Landis’ step sister, they had different fathers.

 

Landis never married or had children and he was a banker for at least forty years.  I wish I could include his photograph in this post but I have not yet found one as he seemed to always be the person taking the pictures.

 

Whitemarsh Memorial Park, Ambler, PA.

Whitemarsh Memorial Park, Ambler, PA.

Sunday’s Obituary – Earl Elliot Strausser

 

Shamokin News Dispatch, April 16, 1964

Shamokin News Dispatch, April 16, 1964

 

Earl E. Strausser

Former Fire Chief In Township Dies

Earl E. Strausser, 73, of 839 West Lynn Street, a former Coal Township fire chief, died last night in Shamokin State General Hospital where he had been a patient since Monday.  Known familiarly to firemen as “Big Six,” Mr. Strausser had been hospitalized previously from January 26 to February 21.

 

Born in Locust Dale, June 15, 1890, Mr. Strausser was a son of the late George and Minnie (Derk) Strausser.  He attended school in Locust Dale and moved to Shamokin with his parents when he was a boy.  He worked as a miner at area collieries.

 

Mr. Strausser was married in Shamokin to the late Martha May Bradigan, who died August 29, 1960.  He served as Coal Township fire chief during the year 1950 and was a 40 – year member of Maine Fire Company.  He was a member of Poor Shot Hunting Camp, also.

 

Survivors include the following children: Miss Vivian Strausser, at home; Mrs. George (Peggy) Nahodil, Levittown; Earl (Sam) Strausser, Shamokin; four sisters, Mrs. Verna Brubaker, Trevorton; Mrs. Pearl DeClercq, Jacksonville, Fla.; Mrs. Miriam Kaseman and Miss Alma Strausser, Shamokin; two brothers, Elmer, Brighton, Mich., and Charles, Crosswell, Mich.; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

 

Funeral arrangements are in charge of Lucas Funeral Directors.  Details appear on page two, column one.

 

 

 

Obituaries can be of great help, especially for finding the marriage name of a female that may have disappeared.  While obituaries can be a wonderful find for both family members and the family historian, the above obituary is a perfect example of why they cannot be considered absolute fact.  This obituary states that Peggy (Strausser) Nahodil is the daughter of Earl; the first problem with this is that Peggy is a nickname and the other issue is that she was not his biological daughter.  Earl’s brother had died many years prior and Earl and his wife took Peggy in and raised her as their own.  Without knowing this information, a family tree would end up all out of whack.  This is my go-to obituary to always remember that obits are helpful tools and not primary sources.

Sunday’s Obituary: Adam L. Nahodil

Soldier Previously Reported Missing Now Listed Dead

Adam Nahodil Killed In Korean Fighting

     Secretary of the Army, Frank C. Pace, Jr. yesterday informed Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Nahodil, 438 South Pearl Street, their son, Corporal Adam L. Nahodil, 20, who was listed as missing in action, was killed in Korea.

 

The telegram received by the Shamokin couple did not mention the date when Corporal Nahodil was killed. In a previous communication, the Army reported Corporal Nahodil as missing in action since October 18, 1951.

 

Two months ago, Mr. and Mrs. Nahodil received a telegram notifying them their son was missing in action.  When the first telegram was received, Frederick Nahodil, the father, veteran of World War I, was a patient in Lebanon Veterans Hospital.

 

Adam L. Nahodil on right during training at Fort Knox.

Adam L. Nahodil on right during training at Fort Knox.

Corporal Nahodil was assigned to Company A, Fifth Cavalry Regiment, First Cavalry Division.  He arrived in Korea in June 1951.  The local soldier enlisted in the Army May 25, 1950, and received training at Fort Knox, Ky., and Camp Breckenridge, Ky.

 

Adam L. Nahodil was born February 4, 1931, in Shamokin, son of Frederick and Flossie (Lynn) Nahodil.  He attended Grant School and Shamokin High School.  The local service man was employed at an independent mining operation before enlisting in is Army unit.  The late soldier was a member of St. John Reformed Church.

 

Two other sons of the local couple are serving in the Army, Private First Class Blyler Nahodil, 19, is stationed in Germany.  He enlisted in the Army one month after Corporal Adam Nahodil.  Another son, Staff Sergeant George Nahodil, 28, was recalled to active duty by the Organized Reserve Corps and is assigned to Fairchild Air Force Base, Fairchild, Wash.

 

Survivors include the parents and the following brothers and sister, in addition to Blyler and George; Fred, of Chester, Edward, John and Jacqueline, at home.

 

Friday, January 11, 1952 , Shamokin News-Dispatch

 

Adam L. Nahodil is buried atop Shamokin Cemetery with his mother and siblings.

Adam L. Nahodil is buried atop Shamokin Cemetery with his mother and siblings.

Funeral Held for Late Service Man

     Funeral services for Corporal Adam L. Nahodil, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Nahodil, 438 South Pearl Street, were held this afternoon in the family home.  Rev. Leroy C. Brumbaugh, pastor of Salem Reformed Church, officiated.  Burial was in Shamokin Cemetery.

 

The body of Corporal Nahodil was recently returned to this country from Korea, and arrived in Shamokin Monday night on a Reading Company train.

 

Corporal Nahodil, who was assigned to Company A Fifth Cavalry Regiment, First Cavalry Division, was first reported missing October 18, 1951.  Mr. and Mrs. Nahodil were notified January 10 that their son was killed in action.  The communication did not mention the date when Corporal Nahodil was killed.

 

The local soldier enlisted in the Army May 25, 1950 and received training at Fort Knox, Ky. and Camp Breckenridge, Ky.  He arrived in Korea in June 1951. Corporal Nahodil, a machine gunner, attended Shamokin High School.  Before enlisting in the Army he was employed at an independent mining operation in the area.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Nahodil have two other sons who are serving in the Army.  Private First Class Blyler Nahodil, is stationed in Germany. Staff Sergeant George Nahodil, who was recalled to active duty by the Organized Reserve Corps, is assigned to Fairchild Air Force Base, Fairchild, Wash.

 

Survivors include the parents and the following brothers and sisters in addition to Blyler and George; Fred, of Chester, Edward, John, and Jacqueline, at home.

 

Thursday, February 14, 1952 , Shamokin News-Dispatch

Sunday’s Obituary: Minnie Etta (Derk) Strausser

Obituary of Minnie (Derk) Strausser

My 2nd great grandmother, Minnie Etta (Derk) Strausser, passed away from heart disease.  Though her obituary lists her eight surviving children, what it doesn’t mention is that she also had seven children preceded her in death, all at a fairly young age.  One of those seven children was my great grandfather George H Strausser who passed away just nine months after his father; both died in the same mine.

Minnie Etta (Derk) StrausserPA_CoalTownship_OddFellowsCemetery_Strausser(Derk)Minnie_20120513_170159_resized

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