All Obituaries

Rose Marie Dashner, on Thursday, July 19, 2018, age 85, of Gibsonia, daughter of the late Edmund and Rosa Dax Knauss, wife of the late Joseph Dashner, who she married on December 15, 1972 and who died on November 2, 2008, foster sister of Ruth Ann Keirig of Conway, also survived by several cousins, her beloved Austrian family who were always in her heart and many friends.  Rose had been a forms designer for People’s Gas and was a member of St. Kilian Church, where she was a Lady...

James R. Marshall, age 75, of Middlesex Twp., Valencia, passed away on Tuesday morning, July 17, 2018 at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless Twp. Born in Butler, PA on February 28, 1943, he was the son of the late James T. Marshall and Hazel Lisman Marshall Wilson. Jim was a truck driver for Brown Trucking. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Mars, where he had held several different offices through the years.  He was the oldest living Life Member and a past President of...

Don McCleary, age 82, of Cranberry, passed away on Monday, July 16, 2018 at Good Samaritan Hospice in Wexford. Born on December 28, 1935 in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late Raymond and Dorothy Williams McCleary. Don successfully started and operated three businesses, A-Air CO., Mechanical Operations of Pittsburgh, and Industrial Pump and Motor Repair. He was an active member of BOMA, Cranberry Rotary, and an NRA Lifetime member. He was also a Mason and was a member at the local...

Robert E Boice, age 80, of Prospect, Pa passed away Saturday, July 14, 2018. Born in Valencia, PA on April 4, 1938, he was the son of the late David and Charlotte Platt Boice. Bob led a very busy life. He worked at Callery Chemical, Union Chillmat, and Myers Tire, was a partner in Air Turbine Propeller, and retired from Armco Steel. For 30 years he owned and operated his vehicle repair and inspection garage. He was a Sewage Enforcement Officer for 25 years. He was PER of the Butler Elks...

Robert P.  Margo, age 90, formerly of Zelienople, died Friday morning, July 6, 2018 at LAS St. John Specialty Care Center in Mars. Born in Port Vue, PA on December 6, 1927, he was the son of the late Andrew and Anna Gerosky Margo. Bob served as a Sgt. in the U.S. Army post-WWII from 1946 to 1948 and was stationed in Panama. After serving in the armed services, Bob attended Duquesne University, receiving a B.S. in Business Administration in 1952. Bob spent his entire professional...

Francis L. “Frank” Tacik, age 77, of Gibsonia, Adams Twp., passed away on Monday morning, July 2, 2018 at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless Twp. Born on October 12, 1940 in Glassport, PA, he was the son of the late Frank and Marie Mularz Tacik.  He graduated from Duquesne University with a B.S. in Business. Frank was a retired Lt. Colonel with the United States Air Force at the 911th Air Lift Wing.  He had served from 1970 through the Vietnam War, retiring in...

Stephanie Lee Grove, age 72, of Mars, PA, passed away on Sunday afternoon, July 1, 2018.  She was born on September 18, 1945 in Pittsburgh, PA, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Alice Miller Skander. A beautician, Stephanie was the owner of Stephanie’s Salon in Mars.  Stephanie was an active member of Valencia United Methodist Church. She also was a past Matron of the Mars Chapter 271 of Eastern Star and at the end of her term as Matron, she served as the Grand...

William G. Pettigrew, Sr., age 95, formerly of Jeannette, passed away Saturday morning, June 30, 2018 at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless Twp. Born in Greensburg, PA on September 1, 1922, he was the son of the late Andrew and Frances Krantz Pettigrew. Bill had been a laborer for Fisher Body in Dravosburg. He had served in the United States Army during W.W. II., and had been a member of the Jeannette American Legion. Active in his community, he was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic...

Donald A. Coleman, age 72, of Bairdford, West Deer Twp., died on Saturday morning, June 23, 2018 at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless Twp. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on June 14, 1946, he was the son of the late John "Jack" and Dorothy Coleman. Donald had been a painter for North Hills Passavant Hospital. Surviving are his wife,  Jeanie Schmiedel Coleman, who he married on April 11, 1970, a daughter, Suzanne M. Coleman of Bairdford, a son,  Thomas L. Coleman...

Helen V. Porter, age 89, of Clearwater, Florida and formerly of Mars, Pennsylvania, died Friday 15 June 2018 at East Bay Rehabilitation Center in Clearwater.  Born March 31, 1929 in Valencia, PA, she was the second of three children born to the late William O. and Clara Kennedy Gilleland.  Helen was a homemaker and for many years a civil servant with the Board of Elections in both Adams Township (Butler County) and upon relocation in Clearwater.  Helen was employed...

Eleanor Marie Shak, age 94, of Mars, formerly of Bakerstown, passed away on Wednesday morning at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless Twp. Born on October 3, 1923 in Bakerstown, PA, she was the daughter of the late Roy and Mamie Peaco. Eleanor was a loving woman who enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and cooking for everyone she loved. She had a heart of gold and will be missed by all. Surviving are her sons, Joseph Shak of Mars and Roy Shak of Cranberry Twp.,  her daughters, Donna...

Jeffrey James Kier, age 61, of Mars, passed away on Saturday morning, June 9, 2018 in the comfort of his home. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on September 28, 1956, he was the son of the late James Porter and Margaret Louise Dunbar Kier. Jeff had been a laborer for Madia Homes. He had been a member of Glade Run Presbyterian Church and was a social member of the Mars V.F.W. Surviving are his wife, Kathy Kinney Kier, who he married on June 27, 1981, two daughters, Jennifer Lyker (Dan) of Valencia...

Hugh M. Trautmann  passed away peacefully Saturday, June 9, 2018 at the ripe age of 84, formerly of Renfrew, PA. Born March 24, 1934 in Santa Monica, California, to the late Herbert L. Trautmann, and Marjorie M. (Milner). He is predeceased by his wife Barbara J (Bittner); his brother, Phillip Trautmann (Mary Asher) of Laguna Beach, California, and his fraternal twin, John Trautmann (Jane McCleeve) of San Jose, California. Hugh is survived by his 5 children, Susan Crist (Peter...

Elizabeth “Lib” Bernadette Kozusko Bajuszik, 90, of Middlesex Township passed away on this June 2, 2018 at her home surrounded by her family. Born September 10, 1927 in Pleasant Unity, Westmoreland County, she was the beloved daughter of Michael and Mary (Mizak) Kozusko. Lib had been employed at Latrobe Steel prior to her marriage and the Mars School District where she was the school secretary at the former Adams Elementary School until her retirement. Lib was an expert...

Kenneth Laverne Neese, age 63, of Phoenix, AZ, formerly of Mars, died suddenly on May 30, 2018, following a cardiac procedure.  He was the son of the late Cloy and Agnes Neese. Kenny was employed by Halquist Stone in Phoenix, AZ. He made his home in Phoenix with his wife, Cindy, who was the love of his life.  They were together for 37 years. He was always the first person to help someone out and he made everyone laugh without even trying.  Kenny’s life revolved around...

Clarence O. (“Bud”) Colvin, age 91, died on May 29, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Austin, Pennsylvania on October 9, 1926 to Clarence O. and Frances Watkins Colvin. He joined the Navy February 1, 1944, after training at Great Lakes, was sent to USNAS Ottumwa. Discharged in July 1946 he joined Pittsburgh Corning Corporation where he was In-Charge of engineering and drafting on special-shaped industrial Foamglass products. Following graduation from...

Mary Ellen Adams, age 77, of Mars, PA, passed away peacefully with her husband by her side on Tuesday morning in her home in Adams Twp. Born on April 4, 1941 in Pittsburgh, she was the daughter of the late Mary and Joseph Freiland. She is survived by her husband, John Adams, who she married on September 26, 1964, her son, John P.(Kathryn) Adams of Winter Park, FL, her daughters, Mary Julie (Jeffrey) Antol of Williamsburg, VA and Mary Jo (Mark) of Kocovski of Granger, IN, her grandchildren,...

Shirley A. Schwarz, age 83, of Mars, passed away on Tuesday morning, May 22, 2018 in the comfort of her home. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on May 16, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Alden J. and Mabel Wachter Andrews. A homemaker, Shirley had been a member of the Mars United Presbyterian Church.  An active church member and worker, she had taught Sunday School for 35 years. She spent 13 years counseling and directing children’s camps at Westminster Highlands and was a Girl...

Lois D. Charles, age 70, of Mars, passed away Monday afternoon, May 21, 2018 at Paramount Senior Living in Mars. Born of May 28, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Richard C. and Lucy M. Pinkerton Dombart. Lois was a school teacher for the Pittsburgh Public Schools. She was a former member of Memorial Park Church in North Hills. Surviving are her husband, William Charles, a daughter, Amanda Truver (Nathen) of Valencia, a son, Jason Sarver (Christy) of Harmony, two step-sons, Peter...

Mac E. Purvis, age 90, of Middlesex Twp., Valencia, passed away on Tuesday morning, May 15, 2018 at the Arbors III in Gibsonia. Born in Mars on July 26, 1927, he was the son of the late Thomas Darvin and Ida Hartung Purvis. Mac was multi-sport athlete at Mars High School and is in the Mars High School Athletic Hall of Fame.  He served in the US Army Reserves and was on active duty during the Korean War as part of the 459th Anti-Aircraft Artillery. He obtained the rank of Technical...