Obituaries

John T. “Jack” Koch, 89, a resident of Wilson Borough since the early 1960’s, died Thursday, March 18, 2021 in Alexandria Manor, Nazareth.

Born May 21, 1931 in Phillipsburg, he was a son of the late Raymond L. and G. Anna “Honey” (Zulauf) Koch. His wife, Barbara Jane (Inscho) Koch died in 1993. Jack and Barbara were married in 1959.
Jack graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1949. He served as a mechanic in the Air Force, 19th Bomb Squad during the Korean War from 1951 to 1955 as part of the Strategic Air Command. He was stationed at March Air Force Base in Riverside, California and earned the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Contact Medal. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service, Lehigh Valley for 33 years advancing from the work floor to the finance department. He retired in 1992. He was also a graduate of the School of Radio Technology, New York and was a news and sportscaster known as Jack Meyers on WGPA, Bethlehem and in Liberty, NY. He was a member of the former Olivet Presbyterian Church, Easton where he served on session and was a trustee and deacon and was a member of American Legion, Post 611. Jack was also an avid Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers fan since 1939.

Surviving are his children, Steven Koch and his wife, Bonnie, and Susan Walter; and five grandchildren, Tim and Kalee Walter and Dakota, Mason and Kara Koch. His brother, Gene Koch and son-in-law, Craig Walter died earlier.

Private graveside services with military honors will be held at Northampton Memorial Shrine. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Thomas A. Wettlaufer, 76, of Washington Township, PA, died Wednesday, March 17, 2021 in St. Luke’s Hospital.

Born March 6, 1945 in Easton, he was a son of the late John P. and Elaine K. (Wagner) Wettlaufer. He and his wife, Linda (Beegle) Wettlaufer were married 50 years.

Thomas worked for PPL, Martins Creek for 32 years. Prior to that he worked for Bethlehem Corporation, Easton for 15 years. He was an avid fly fisherman, hunter and outdoorsman and he loved gardening.

Surviving with his wife, Linda are two daughters, Kristin Buehl and Stacey Berger and her husband, Craig; three brothers, John Wettlaufer, James Wettlaufer and Timothy Wettlaufer; four grandchildren, Nathan Stark-Buehl, Cristofer Buehl, Alex Berger and Andrew Berger. His sister, Priscilla Stocker died earlier.

A visitation will be held from 6:00 to 7:30 pm on Friday, March 19, 2021 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association, www.heart.org.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Marjory Gail Petersen, 78, passed away on March 17th at Moravian Hall Square in Nazareth, PA. The daughter of the late Dorothy (Hendrickson) and William L. Petersen, Margie was born in Manhattan, NY and lived most of her life in West New York, NJ. A graduate of Stevens Academy in Hoboken, Marjory attended Upsala College and Katharine Gibbs School in New York. Margie worked for RCA at Rockefeller Center and later left RCA for Hertz. She made a final move to KPMG where she was employed for over twenty years in the travel department.

After retiring, Margie moved to Glenmoor in Easton, PA to be closer to family. She enjoyed playing Scrabble and other games, taking cruises, traveling internationally, keeping in touch with friends, shopping and reading. Margie is survived by her sister, Brenda Petersen Egolf, nephew Rob Egolf, niece Sue Burns (husband Drew), grand-nephew Andy Burns, grand-niece Maggie Burns and cousin and travelling companion, Lois Johnson as well as close friends, Janice Hansen-Schropp, Maria Nigro and Luise Schwabe. She was predeceased by her brother-in-law, Robert H. Egolf, and Rob Egolf’s wife, Margaret “Peggy” Egolf.

Services will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to ITN Lehigh Valley, Suite 20 A, 35 East Elizabeth Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18018. ITN is a nonprofit transportation service for seniors.
Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Lois A. Yiaski, 65 of Center Valley, PA died Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Born July 20, 1955 in Phillipsburg, NJ she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Marion (McInerney) Marchie. She was a graduate of Phillipsburg High School and had been employed by Valley Oral Surgery for many years. 

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Joseph Yiaski, III; her daughter: Carly Yiaski of Center Valley; her sister: Jane Gregan of Belvidere, NJ; and a brother: Joseph Marchie of SC. Her baby boy, Aaron Joseph Yiaski, predeceased her.

A visitation will be held from 1 to 2:30 PM Sunday (March 14) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA. A Celebration of her Life will be held at a later date. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Last Chance Ranch, 9 Beck Rd., Quakertown, PA 18951. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Elizabeth J. “Betty” Barton, 94 formerly of Wilson Borough, PA died Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at Alexandria Manor, Nazareth, PA. Born June 6, 1926 in Changewater, NJ she was a daughter of the late Walter and Elizabeth (Laumer) Rush. A 1944 graduate of Wilson High School, she taught nursery school at First Presbyterian Church, Easton and St. Paul’s III Lutheran Church in Palmer Twp. for many years before retiring. Betty was an active member of St. Peter’s UCC in Tatamy and served on Consistory and in the choir at St. Peter’s and the former Memorial UCC, Wilson. She had been a Judge of Elections in Wilson and active in the PTA. Betty loved to bowl and was a member of a bowling league.  She also enjoyed making pies.

She is survived by her daughters: Marsha Miller of Fairfax, VA, Patricia Lebresco (Nicholas) of West Chester, PA, and Carol Recker (Glenn) of Allentown, PA; 9 grandchildren: Craig Miller (Ann), Christopher Lebresco (Lindsay), Mark Lebresco (Kristen), Philip Lebresco (Krista), Jenna Winchenbach (Jason), Elizabeth Remaly (Chad), Brandon Beebe (Miranda), Glenn Recker (Sara) and Thomas Recker; 12 great-grandchildren and 2 nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Thomas “Frank” Barton, Jr. in 1992, her son: Thomas Barton, III in 2012, her grandson: Todd Miller in 2003 and her brother: Robert Hagenbach in 2007.

A Visitation will be held from 5 to 6:30 PM Friday (Mar. 12) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton with a graveside service 11 AM Saturday at Northampton Memorial Shrine, 3501 Green Pond Rd., Easton. A Celebration of her Life will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s UCC, 401 Broad St., Tatamy, PA 18085 or to Alexandria Manor, 7 S. New St., Nazareth, PA 18064. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.