Gary Wolfel

Please join us in celebrating the lives and unconditional love shared between Gary E. Wolfel and Joan M. Wolfel of Emporium, PA on Saturday at 11:00 AM (December 4, 2021) at St. Mark Catholic Church, 235 E. Fourth St., Emporium, PA with Rev. Paul S. Siebert, Pastor, as Celebrant.  Gary and Joan found each other very early in life at the ages of 18 and 15, respectively. Gary was quiet and shy, while Joan was outgoing and headstrong. Despite their contrary personalities, they fell madly in love and eloped soon after (November 6, 1973). During their marriage, Gary and Joan raised five children, which they described as one of their greatest joys in life, only rivaled by the birth of their grandchildren.

Individually, Gary was an outdoors aficionado, firearms hobbyist, and nontraditional engineer while Joan was a creative crafter, quilter, and avid baker. It is difficult to describe Gary and Joan separately because they were an indivisible pair. They enjoyed taking four-wheeler rides through Bobby’s Run, having their morning coffee together at the table, and spending time with their family. Ultimately, there are not enough words to describe how many smiles, how much laughter and love, and how many memories Gary and Joan have brought into the lives of their family and friends. However, mere days apart, Gary and Joan passed away at Penn Highlands Elk Hospital in St. Marys, PA (November 5, 2021 and November 9, 2021, respectively). As in life, they followed each other in death, just as they had always planned.

Gary was born June 12, 1955 in St. Marys, PA to Helen (Silinsky) Wolfel and the late Gilbert Wolfel. Gary was preceded in death by his father, Gilbert Wolfel, and son, Justin Wolfel, on May 28, 1999. He is survived by his mother Helen (Silinsky) Wolfel; four daughters, Mindy (Doug Frase) Geci, Emporium; Kristy (Matthew Harbart) Wolfel, Sidman, PA; Anne (Nicholas) Arnold, Richland, WA; Emily (John) Dubel, Emporium; eight grandchildren: Katelyn, Alyssa, Mikala, and James Geci, Brooke and Everett Harbart, Adelaide and Penelope Dubel; sister, Darlene Levin, Whittmann, AZ; three brothers, Paul Wolfel; David Wolfel; Dennis Wolfel, all of Emporium.

Joan was born December 13, 1958 in St. Marys, PA to the late David and Ruby (Knarr) Reed. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gary, and son, Justin. Joan is survived by four daughters, Mindy (Doug Frase) Geci, Emporium; Kristy (Matthew Harbart) Wolfel, Sidman, PA; Anne (Nicholas) Arnold, Richland, WA; Emily (John) Dubel, Emporium; eight grandchildren: Katelyn, Alyssa, Mikala, and James Geci, Brooke and Everett Harbart, Adelaide and Penelope Dubel; mother-in-law, Helen Wolfel, Emporium; sister, Denise Reed; brother, David Reed; sister, Jane Laird; sister, Sharon Bailey, all of Emporium; sister, Nancy Tracy, Mansfield, PA.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated at the St. Mark Catholic Church, 235 East Fourth Street, Emporium, PA on Saturday (December 4, 2021) at 11:00 AM with Rev. Paul S. Siebert, Pastor, as Celebrant.

Burial will be in the St. Mark Catholic Cemetery, Emporium, PA

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