April 2023

Shirley L. Collins, 89, of Meadow Rd., Emporium, PA passed away at Penn Highlands Elk, St. Marys, PA on Saturday morning (April 8, 2023). She was born July 3, 1933, a daughter of the late Charles and Lula Maybelle Shaylor Nellis.

Shirley worked at Sylvania years ago and then was a stay at home homemaker most of her life. She was a very private person who loved spending time with her animals and her family.

She is survived by a daughter, Karen Higgs, Emporium; two sons, Clifton Collins, Emporium and Gary Collins, Homer, AK; four grandchildren, two great grandchildren; brother, Robert Nellis and a sister, Virginia Main both of Emporium.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Mark Collins, sisters, Betty Gaenzle, Annabelle Nellis and Joanne Austin; brothers, Richard, Gary, Jim and Charles “Joe” Nellis.

Services will be private with the family. There will be no visitation.

Burial will be in the Newton Cemetery, Emporium, PA

Online Condolences may be placed at www.BarnettFuneralHome.net

BARNETT FUNERAL HOME, Inc. entrusted with arrangements

Harriett Neil, formerly of Bradford, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2022, at the age of 88 after a life well lived.  

Join us for a celebration of life for Harriett at 2:00 pm Saturday April 15, 2023, at the Hill Memorial United Methodist Church. Committal services will follow in Willow Dale Cemetery. 

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com

Leo John Lenze, of Titusville, Florida and formerly of Saint Marys, Pennsylvania, passed on Easter Morning (April 9, 2023). The son of Leo Andrew Lenze and Beulah Evelyn Lenze, Leo was born on October 19, 1936; he was 86.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, M. Ellen Lenze; their six married children Andrew & Sharon Lenze, Elizabeth & Edwin Seiler, David & Lisa Lenze, James & Sylvia Lenze, Donald & Janet Lenze, and Leo & Leann Lenze; 23 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren.

Leo graduated from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and earned a graduate degree from the Pennsylvania State University. After graduating from IUP, he taught school for two years in Ulysses, Pennsylvania before returning to Saint Marys to teach in the public high school for the remainder of his teaching career. At various times during his 36 years of teaching, he also taught night classes at the DuBois Business College, tutored children unable to attend school in residence, coached basketball, taught swimming, and co-managed the Memorial (Community) Pool. Leo and Ellen also owned and operated Johnson’s Grocery Store for many years until they sold it in 1989. Upon Leo’s retirement from Saint Marys Area High School in 1993, he served two terms as Elk County Auditor and spent time exploring the country with Ellen in their RV.

In his later years, Leo and Ellen sold their RV and purchased a modest retirement home in the Willow Lakes Resort outside of Titusville, Florida. They followed the seasons moving back and forth between Florida and Pennsylvania until 2020, when they sold their home in Saint Marys and became full-time Florida residents.

Leo will be laid to rest in the Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. A viewing will be held on Friday,

April 14, 2023 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home, and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 10:00 am at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with the Rev. Thomas Curry, OSB, Pastor, celebrating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be added to a Penn State Scholarship fund that was created in honor of Leo and Ellen’s commitment to education at: raise.psu.edu/FREEDOMscholarship. Alternatively, checks payable to “Penn State” with “SXQFY-Lenze FREEDOM scholarship” on the memo line may be mailed to: Attn: DONOR AND MEMBER SERVICES, Penn State University, 2583 Gateway Drive, Bristol Place One, Suite 130, State College, PA 16801.

Online condolences may be offered at www.lynch-radkowski.com

David  R. Zettle, 79, of Montmorenci Road, died on Sunday, April 9, 2023, in Wexford following a brief illness.

He was born on July 17, 1943, in Ridgway, a son of the late Clarence and Evelyn Vasbinder Zettle.

On October 15, 1966, he married the late Charlotte Anderson Zettle, who preceded him in death on July 1, 2019.

David was a graduate of Johnsonburg High School and resident of the area for many years. He served in the U.S. Army making his rank to Master Sergeant and retired in 1987. David was a tool and die maker by trade and retired from Exotic Metals in 2003. He was a member of The Ridgway Elks. He spent his free time having coffee with his friends at Joey’s Bakery, going to Ridgway basketball games, and watching Johnsonburg Rams baseball.

He is survived by 1 son, Jon Zettle and his wife Toni of St. Marys, 1 daughter, Dana Jordan and her husband Chris of Ridgway, 4 grandchildren; Robert, MyKenna, Campbell, Jason, and his beloved dog, Pete.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Edward Zettle.

A Memorial Service for David R. Zettle will be held on Friday, April 14, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Krise Funeral Home, 130 Center Street, Ridgway, PA, 15853, with Pastor Erik Hart officiating.

Burial will follow at Maria Lutheran Cemetery.

Family and friends will be received at Krise Funeral home from 10:00 AM until the time of services.

Krise Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 130 Center Street, Ridgway, PA 15853 is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be offered to the family at www.krisefuneralhome.com

Dennis J. Kohler, 67, of Charleston, WV, formerly of Smethport, PA, passed away at CAMC Memorial Hospital following a brief illness April 6, 2023.

Dennis was born July 18, 1955 to Earl and Virginia Kohler in Buffalo, NY. Both parents preceded him in death.

Dennis lived in the Buffalo area for most of his childhood. He moved to Smethport to live with his grandmother, Agnes P. Vickers, for his junior and senior years of high school. He graduated from Smethport High School in 1973. He went on to receive his degree in Environmental Science from Lehigh University.

After graduation he moved to Charleston and worked as an environmental scientist in both the mining and waste management industries. He also worked as a staff scientist for an environmental consulting firm until his retirement.

On November 4, 1994, he married Lois Bailey, who survives. Surviving in addition to his wife Lois, is former spouse Debra Rollyson Kohler with whom Dennis had a son, Brad (Christina) Kohler of Charleston. Dennis is also survived by a stepdaughter, Jennifer (Russ) Simpson of Charleston, his brother Bill (Sharon) Kohler of Smethport, sister Melanie Durkee, also of Smethport, grandchildren Bailey Kohler, Jacob Hively, Kendall Hardman, Danni Dolin, and Skylor Simpson. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Dennis was preceded in death by oldest brother Roger Kohler, nephew Michael Zaehringer, and brother-in-law Michael Durkee.

Dennis was a strong supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Each year he was passionate in his desire to raise money to help find a cure for Juvenile Diabetes. He was an avid Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres fan. He enjoyed spending his time cutting firewood, doing yard work, painting, scrapping metal, and helping friends out when they needed a hand.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to JDRF.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Snodgrass Funeral Home.