Obituaries

James R. Kilpatrick, 71, of Camp Hill, formerly of Easton, died Friday, March 19, 2021 in UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg.

Born September 24, 1949 in Wilson Borough, he was a son of Mamie I. (Stoneback) Kilpatrick of Easton and the late Herbert E. Kilpatrick, Jr. He and his wife, Nancy M. (Bickert) Kilpatrick were married 42 years.

Jim served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and worked as a superintendent at Taylor-Wharton for 40 years until retiring in 2010. He was an avid softball player and was a wrestling and football coach.

Surviving with his mother, Mamie and his wife, Nancy, are his stepchildren, Norman “Pete” Stout and his wife, DKay, Kimberly Wismer, Cheryl Konopaski, and Charlene Pleiss; two sisters, Patricia Vincent and Kathleen Vincent; a stepdaughter-in-law, Tracy; twelve step grandchildren; and eighteen step great grandchildren. His stepchildren, Robert Stout and Robin Kilpatrick; his brother, Robert Kilpatrick; and his step granddaughter, Jessica died earlier.

A visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 pm on Sunday, March 28, 2021 and from 10:00 to 10:30 am on Monday, March 29, 2021 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, March 29, 2021 in Easton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org, Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Rd., Easton, PA 18042 or American Legion Post 724, 217 N Broadway, Wind Gap, PA 18091.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

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.