Ashton Funeral Home

Obituaries

Richard M. “Dick” Brossman

June 23, 2017

Richard M. “Dick” Brossman, 95, of Bethlehem Township, formerly of Palmer Township, passed away on Friday, June 23rd. He and his wife, Louise Lindsey Brossman, resided in Palmer Township for 46 years.  He was the manager of ABCO Abstracting Company of Northampton County, a real estate title insurance company in Easton before retiring in 1990.  Prior to that, Dick was in the newspaper business for 20 years, starting as an editor of his hometown newspaper in Brookville, PA and then reporting news of the Northampton County Courthouse for the Easton Express. He was employed by a law firm involving real estate matters for 10 years before establishing the title insurance agency that he managed in Easton.

Born in Canton, Ohio, on February 10, 1922, he was the son of William G. Brossman and Cleo Mangas Brossman. He was a retired Naval Officer, having enlisted in 1942 as a Seaman Apprentice where he was stationed in the Netherlands West Indies and New York City headquarters for the US Navy Armed Guard. He was discharged from the Navy post World War II, as a Chief Petty Officer.  Graduating from Penn State College of Communications in 1949, he was commissioned in the US Naval Reserve serving for 20 years before retiring. While serving, he was Executive Officer of a Naval Reserve electronics unit which was cited as the outstanding unit of it’s type in the Fourth Naval District in 1956 and ranked second among all 240 units of that type in the US Naval Reserve for which he received a commendation from the Chief of Naval Personnel. He was a member of the US Naval Institute and lifetime member of the Military Officers Assn and the Lehigh Valley chapter. Being a former member of the Palmer Lions Club, he was the Club’s
first pool membership chairman at the time the Palmer Community Swimming Pool was built.  He was a member of the Calvary United Methodist Church and served as President of the board of Trustees, Chairman of the Administrative Board and chairman and member of other committees including the building committee for the new church facilities on Green Pond Road, as well as a choir member. He enjoyed photography, writing and barbershop singing in which he performed with many organizations.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Louise L. Brossman and three children, Beverly Brossman Shay, of Lutz, FL; Robert D. Brossman and wife Judy of Bethlehem; and Lindsey, wife of Scott Finken, of Merrimack, NH. He has 8 grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister, Phyllis Hood of Freedom, PA and was preceded in death by his sister, Billie R. Brossman.

Services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, June 29, 2017 in Green Pond United Methodist Church, 4411 Green Pond Rd., Easton.  A visitation will be held from 6 – 7:30 pm on Wednesday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.  Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Memorial contributions may be made to Green Pond United Methodist Church, 4411 Green Pond Rd., Easton, PA 18045.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Michael R. Ducey

June 23, 2017

Michael R. Ducey

Michael R. Ducey, 54 of Easton, PA died June 23, 2017 at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest. Born June 21, 1963 in Bainbridge, Maryland, he was a 1981 graduate of Easton High School. He owned and operated Michael R. Ducey Plumbing and Heating since 1996. Prior to that he was employed by Dufek Plumbing in New Jersey for many years. He was a member of the Wilson Democratic Association and an avid deep sea fisherman.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years: Nancy A. (Seiple) Ducey; his parents: Pamela Ann (Lyons) and Armond DeFranco of Palmer Twp., PA; two sisters: Beth DeFranco and her husband Joseph Spence of Bethlehem, PA, Audra DeFranco of Los Angeles, CA; mother and father-in-law: Janice and Donald Seiple, Sr., brother-in-law: Donald Seiple, Jr. and his wife Zina and niece: Oksana Seiple all of Nazareth.

Services are 10:30 AM Wednesday (June 28) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton; with visitation 6 PM to 7:30 PM Tuesday and 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM Wednesday in the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www. stjude.org or to the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation at www.guyharvey.com/donations.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Pauline P. Johnson

June 22, 2017

Pauline P. Johnson

Pauline P. Johnson, 72 formerly of Wilson Borough, PA died June 22, 2017 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Anderson Campus. Born Sept. 26, 1944 in Lebanon, NJ she was a daughter of the late Pearl (Smith) and Paul Mazur. She owned Small Time Cleaning in Highbridge, NJ for 27 years and was a member of the Blind Association, Bethlehem.  She was also a member of First Presbyterian Church, Easton and active in their shawl ministry.

She is survived by a son: Donald Johnson, Jr. and his wife Karen; sisters: Paulette Manfredi and Paula Deemer; former husband: Donald Johnson, Sr.;  a granddaughter: Shelby; nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held 1:30 PM Thursday, July 6 in the Ridgeway Lounge at First Presbyterian Church, 333 Spring Garden St., Easton; the Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Frederick A. Gunsser

June 18, 2017

Frederick Albert Gunsser, 81 of Easton, PA died Sunday, June 18, 2017 at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg. Born January 28, 1936 in Pittsburgh, PA he was a son of the late Mary Theresa (Kearney) and Frederick Herman Gunsser. A graduate of Pen Argyl High School, he had served in the US Army. He was employed by Easton National Bank and Trust as a Branch Manager for 25 years and as a part-time Wind Gap Police Officer for 25 years. He was also a volunteer for the Wind Gap Ambulance Squad.

He is survived by his wife: Jacquelyn A. (Burns); a son: Jeff of Wind Gap; a daughter: Michele Hahn of Pen Argyl, PA; a brother: John of Jim Thorpe; step-children: Joe Archer, Jr. of Trucksville, PA, Jennifer Kotz of Wilson Borough, A.J. Bartholomew of Wind Gap; grandsons: Matthew and Lucas and step-grandchildren: Talia Rose, Matthew, Scott, Jason, Kelsey, Archer and Jenna Sue. He was predeceased by his former wife Jeanette.

Services are private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Dr. I. C. Kim

June 13, 2017

Dr. I. C. Kim, 91, of Palmer Township, died Tuesday, June 13, 2017 in Gracedale.

Born August 6, 1925 in Seoul, South Korea, he was a son of the late Yung Ho Cho Kim and Yung Whan Kim.  His wife, Helen (Wagner) Kim died in 1994.

Dr. Kim was a well known pediatrician in the Easton and Phillipsburg Area.  He retired in 2005 after more than 50 years in practice.

Surviving are a daughter, Cathy Smith of Bath; a son, Stephen Kim of Bath; 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Services will be held at 7:00 pm on Friday, June 16, 2017 in Forks United Church of Christ, 4500 Sullivan Trail, Stockertown.  A visitation will be held from 6:00 pm until service time on Friday in the church.  Interment will be private in Forks Cemetery.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org.

Clara A. Kaniper

June 11, 2017

Clara A. Kaniper

Clara A. Kaniper, 91 of Palmer Township, PA died Sunday, June 11, 2017 at Alexandria Manor, Nazareth. Born August 22, 1925 in Richmond, PA she was the daughter of the late Katie (Frey) and Fred Smith, Sr. Her husband Delbert K. Kaniper died in 1999. She was employed by Laneco for many years before retiring and was an avid cat lover.

She is survived by her daughter: Patricia Sesoko of Bethlehem Twp., PA; her son: James A. Kaniper of Palmer Twp., PA; her granddaughter: Nicole Glass (husband Dr. Eric Glass) and two great-granddaughters: Isabella and Ella. Her husband, Delbert and her brother: Fred Smith, Jr. died earlier.

Services are private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Road, Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Irene A. Selmasska

June 10, 2017

Irene A. Selmasska, 90, died Saturday, June 10, 2017 in Gracedale.

Born June 11, 1926 in Newark, NJ, she was a daughter of the late Alexander and Anna (Ossowski) Gorka.

Irene was a customer service manager for Macy’s in Wayne, NJ for over 25 years until retiring in 1993.

Surviving are a son, Carl B. Selmasska and his wife, Ellen of Forks Township; a daughter, Doreen A. Miller and her husband, Joseph of Emmaus; 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.  A son, Kenneth A. Selmasska, a brother, Joseph Gorka and a sister, Alice Gorka died earlier.

Services will be private.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association, 968 Postal Rd., Suite 110, Allentown, PA 18109, www.heart.org.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Laura A. Corby

June 7, 2017

Laura A. Corby, 62, of Allentown, died Wednesday, June 7, 2017 in St. Luke’s Hospice House.

Born January 25, 1955 in Newark, NJ, she was a daughter of the late Russell and Mildred (Allen) Good.  Her husband, Peter Corby died earlier.

Laura was a home health aide at Senior Solutions, Allentown.

Surviving are her sisters, Teresa D. Bauchspies and Roberta E. Vargas.

A graveside service will be held at 2:30 pm on Monday, June 12, 2017 in Northampton Memorial Shrine, Palmer Township.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.