Joan C.V. Sarkozi
Retired nurse

Joan C.V. Sarkozi of Murrysville, a retired nurse who had cared for patients at Forbes Regional Hospital, died May 13, 2008, in The Western Pennsylvania Hospital -- Forbes Regional Campus, Monroeville. She was 75.

Mrs. Sarkozi was born Feb. 8, 1933, in Barbados to Edric Ellis and Viola Brathwaite. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Church.

She is survived by her husband, Miklos Sarkozi; children, Veronika Dufer and Miklos and Victor Sarkozi; sisters, Velma Ellis and Noreen Bailey; brothers, Emerson Ellis and Errol Jordan; and eight grandchildren.

Family and friends were received at Findlay C. Wylie Funeral Home, Penn Hills. Mass was at St. John the Baptist Church. Interment was at Plum Creek Cemetery.

William Korach
Butcher, farmer, fire chief and constable

William "Buddy" Korach of Export, a worldwide traveller who fed the Export community as a butcher and farmer and protected it as a fire chief and constable, died May 13, 2008, at Ark Twin Valley Care Center in Delmont. He was 96.

Mr. Korach was born Dec. 12, 1911, in Export to Mike and Katie Lapcevic Korach.

In the early 1940s, he was a butcher for Berkowitz Market and then spent several years as constable and fire chief in Export. His interests then turned to farming, and while successfully farming 100 acres, he held a full-time job for 36 years before retiring as inspector at the East Pittsburgh plant of Westinghouse Electric.

After retiring, he and his wife traveled extensively worldwide. Mr. Korach was a member of F&AM Forbes Trail Lodge 783, Export.

He is survived by his children, William "Budd" (and wife, Mary) Korach and Karen (and husband, John) Britz, all of Export; a grandson, Will Korach; and his last living sister, Martha Nyberg, 103, of Des Plaines, Ill.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Helen Cheplick Korach; brothers, Dan and Sam Korach; sisters, Mildred, Ann, Dorothy Jenkins, Eva Kachmore and Diane Linta; and his parents.

Family and friends were received at Wolfe-Von Geis Funeral Home Inc., Export. Entombment is in Twin Valley Memorial Park, Delmont.

Frank Casper Jr.
Veteran of Normandy

Frank R. Casper Jr. of Wegley, a World War II veteran and a retiree of U.S. Steel National Tube Works in McKeesport, died May 10, 2008, at Excela Health Westmoreland hospital, Greensburg. He was 83.

Mr. Casper was born July 31, 1924, in White Valley to Frank Sr. and Ella Noca Casper. He was employed at the Pennsylvania Railroad before working for the tube works. A World War II veteran, he served in the Army and fought in the first wave of the Normandy Invasion at Omaha Beach. He was a member of American Legion Post 472 and Zion Lutheran Church in Harrison City.

He is survived by his wife, Georgine Martincheck Casper; sons, Frank (and wife, Mary) of Irwin, Robert and Ronald Casper, both of Wegley; a daughter, Linda Casper of Harrison City; and grandchildren Frank Casper and Bonnie Bradley; and a sister, Roselia Weber.

He was preceded in death by brothers, Harry and Arthur Capser, and his parents.

Private arrangements were handled by E.J. Rodgers Funeral Home, Manor.

Mary Leonard
Formerly of Export

Former Export resident Mary Gamblin Leonard died May 16, 2008. She was 86.

Mrs. Leonard was born Sept. 19, 1921, in Export to Floyd and Grace Brewer Stokum. She worked for Dr. Vincent B. Hall of Murrysville for 30 years before retiring in 1985. A lifetime member of Emmanuel Reformed United Church of Christ (Hills Church), she enjoyed word-find puzzles, reading, gardenin, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Mrs. Leonard had been living in Dover, Pa.

She is survived by her daughter, Debbie (and husband, James) Cobb, with whom she resided; her grandchildren, Christopher (and wife, Sarah) Cobb and Jamie (and husband, Phillip) Mulhollen; a great-grandchild; and a nephew, Jay Bortz.

She was was preceded in death by her husbands, Earl Leonard and Stanley Gamblin; two sisters, Gladys Loughner and Geraldine Bortz; an infant brother; and her parents.

Friends were received at Wolfe-Von Geis Funeral Home, Export, where a service was held with the Rev. Richard Seigfried officiating. Interment was at Emmanuel Church Cemetery.

Memorial contributions are suggested to VNA Hospice Services, 218 E. Market St., York, PA 17403 or Emmanuel Reformed United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 426, Hills Church Road, Export, PA 15632.

Joseph Kempka
Omnova employee

Joseph M. Kempka of Greensburg, an employee at Omnova Solutions Inc. in Jeannette, died May 14, 2008. He was 55.

Mr. Kempka was born Aug. 1, 1952, in Latrobe to Henry and Theresa Toth Kempka. An athlete and an avid fan of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, he was a member of St. Sylvesters Roman Catholic Church, Slickville.

He is surviving by his sisters, Mary Anne Overly and Theresa Marie (and husband, James) Wetzel, both of Delmont, Bernadette (and Blase) Caranese of Greensburg, Loretta (and Phillip) Bell of Latrobe, Monica (and John) Slaughenhoupt of North Carolina and Deborah (and Steve) Bozik of Ashburn, Va.; and brothers, John (and wife, Cindy) Kempka and Martin (and Denise) Kempka, all of Greensburg.

Family and friends were received at Vaia Funeral Home Inc., Delmont. Mass was in St. John Baptist de la Salle Catholic Church in Delmont with the Rev. James Goldberg officiating.

Richard Crowl Sr.
Of Redstone Highlands

Richard W. Crowl Sr. of Murrysville died May 15, 2008, in Redstone Highlands, Murrysville. He was 91.

He is survived by his son, Richard Crowl Jr. of New Alexandria; and grandchildren, Kristin Diethorn and Richard Paul Crowl.

His wife, Gail Warnock Crowl, preceded him in death.

Visitation was at Wm. O. Pearce Funeral Home Inc., Pitcairn. Interment was at Penn Lincoln Memorial Cemetery.