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John Theiss Obituary
JOHN G.
Of Wilkinsburg. On Monday, July 22, 2002, age 41. He was the son of Esther (Doody) Theiss & the late Robert Theiss; brother of Eileen & Randy Loeffler of Collier Twp., Maureen & Dan Murray of Greentree, James & Bonnie Theiss of Wilkins Twp., Robert W. II, Tammy Theiss of Plum and Kathleen & Richard Stojanovic of North Huntingdon; John had eleven nieces & nephews. Friends may call Thursday 7-9 p.m. at the PATRICK T. LANIGAN FUNERAL HOME, 700 Linden Avenue At Cable, East Pgh., (412-824-8800). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Colman Church. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes donations be made to St. Colman, 100 Tri Boro Highway, Turtle Creek, PA 15145.
www.laniganfuneralhome.com
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Leslie and Brian Cuda
December 24, 2002
To the Theiss family,
I'm sure this will be a very difficult Holiday season for all of you, but we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas, and best wishes for a happy new year. You will always be in our thoughts and prayers.
And to our dear Hondo,
Spiritually, Christmas is even more meaningful this year. You have joined the angels that bless this time of year, which therefore, make it that much more special. We will love and miss you always, but we thank god again; this Christmas, for the gift of your friendship, and the blessings it has made in our lives.
Merry Christmas!!
September 25, 2002
Missing you very much!
September 12, 2002
Thinking of you...
Maggie and Helen McChesney
August 20, 2002
My Dearest Hondo:
We've been friends for about two decades, during which we have shared many laughs. It wasn’t until your father passed, that you came to understand my pain of losing a parent. It was yet another bond we shared, besides our loneliness. However, I will never forget the joy you had for me, when I finally found true happiness in a relationship that most people did not understand. While they did not understand, you did! You never questioned it, it was just enough for you to know that happiness finally came my way. As excited as you were for us, we were equally excited to learn that you had found your soul mate. You were so excited and honored to participate in our wedding as "The Bartender" of a wedding that so many people passed judgment upon. But, you never held us in judgment, just as we shall not hold you in judgment. We pray that you have found your peace and thank you for making a loving impact on our life. We shall love and miss you always! Thanks for being a “true” friend. Forever, Maggie and Helen!
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Leslie Cuda
August 17, 2002
Dear Hondo,
I can assure you that I am one of those people who are thinking about you right now as well, as I do every day. I would also be singing with you and Cathy. Very loudly, and very BADLY, as you well know. Sometimes when I close my eyes I can see your face so clearly. It makes me smile and cry at the same time. I will carry you in my mind and in my heart now and always! Missing you very much!!
I love you,
Leslie
Catherine Crawford
August 16, 2002
Dear Hondo,
I am here listening to beautiful music and singing and somehow, some way, it makes me feel a little bit better. If you were here now, you would be singing along, I know. It's been a few days since anyone has written, but I know that many people are thinking of you tonight and tomorrow and missing you with all of their hearts as I am now...
I love you,
Cathy Crawford
Margaret (Riley) Gibson
August 6, 2002
I pray that the Theiss Family finds comfort in the kind words of the many people that have expressed their love for Hondo.
I remember Hondo as a person you always wanted to be around because he was so much fun - he had a magnetic personality.
I also remember the days when he sold papers outside St. James and would go past my house and we'd talk. Then there was Mill Street, and I have many happy memories of hanging out there.
Fortunately, we had the pleasure of celebrating a few St. Paddy's Days with Hondo.
And as the ending of the Irish Blessing goes ...... And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Pat and Tommy Bechtold
August 4, 2002
To the Theiss Family,
Tom and I will deeply miss John. He was such a kind and caring soul. We remember him from many years ago when he was just a lad in his teens. His smile and easy way with everyone will leave a joyful lasting memory. Hondo and his dad are back together now just like they used to be. Our heartfelt sympathies are with all of you. We will keep him and all of you in our prayers.
KATHY RYAN - KRAVAS
August 1, 2002
HONDO:
I HOPE YOU ARE IN A PLACE THAT GIVES YOU PEACE AND HAPPINESS. YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR ME AND I WILL
MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU ALWAYS.
Joe Kirchner
August 1, 2002
To the Theiss Family,
It has been many years since I spent any time with you, but it seems like yesterday that we were playing some game on Bryant Way (The Alley) near our homes. I believe I was there when John was christened "Hondo".
I lost my wife to cancer 3 years ago when she was only 40 years old but it is still difficult to imagine your grief at this time. Hopefully, you will all be able to say that you did whatever you could to help John avoid making this decision. It is very true that time does heal, even if it does so slowly.
I will keep John and all of you in my prayers.
Joe Kirchner
[email protected]
John & Peggy English
August 1, 2002
To The Theiss Family
Our deepest sympathy and condolences go out to all of John's family and friends. Hondo will be greatly missed by all who shared a beer, played a game of pool, or just had a quiet conversation with him. I had the pleasure of doing them all.
Peggy and I will miss him dearly.
Our prayers and thoughts are with his family in this very trying time.
Tina (Athena) McClure (Quast)
August 1, 2002
Theiss Family,
We would like to extend our heartfelt sympathy to all of you.
I know this is a difficult time, but at least you have all of the good memories of John. You know you can always stop in at Donny's and find someone to share a story of John with.
We will never forget what John meant to us. As a matter of fact, my life would not be what it is if it wasn't for John. Thanks to John introducing me to my husband, Jeff McClure. Jeff and I later moved out of Wilkinsburg and we had a beautiful baby girl together. I am very grateful to have known John. All four of our children (Tina, Jeff Jr., Kayla, & Bailey) will remember John. They have all grown up knowing that John was a big part of our life. We will never forget his smile, laugh, or walk. I personnally enjoyed his Geraldine (Flip Wilson) impersonation, "What you talking about sucker!"
He was always great with the kids, loved candy, dinner invites, and leftovers.
Whenever we needed him to lend a hand, he was always there. It's not the same, but it's nice to know that he will be lending a hand from above now.
We're sorry that we couldn't have done anything to have helped John. Please know that he was a great guy and that he will be very missed.
Mrs. Theiss, please know that you raised a very caring, generous, polite, and well mannered son. He always treated everyone with respect.
Hondo,
I hope you are at peace and enjoy seeing your father again. I wish you would have come to us for help. We miss you and we will always remember the fun we had!
Tina (Athena Quast) &
Jeff McClure & Family
Jeff McClure
August 1, 2002
Hondo,
You are one of the best friends I will ever have. A part of you will always be in our hearts. You will be missed more than words can ever say.
I will always remember the good times we had.
MAY GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!
Miss you always,
Jeff & Family
JEANENE JONES(KLEMM)
July 30, 2002
TO THE THEISS FAMILY: I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS,YOU ARE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. HONDO, MAY YOU REST IN PEACE AND GOD BLESS.
Misty Organ
July 30, 2002
Gerard,
I'm going to miss you more than you'll ever know. I hope you're at peace now and I'll see you again one day. You bring the Michelob and I'll bring the Jaegermeister and Jenga. I love you always.
Bob & Tammy Theiss
July 28, 2002
To all that have signed this guestbook, we are extremely grateful for all the prayers and support we have received over the last week.John will be sadly missed by all that knew him but we are sure that he is resting in a place far greater than this, reunited with his father. The generosity and outpouring of love and prayers proved what a "true friend John was to all". On behalf of the entire Theiss family I thank you all again!!
John & Jeanine Brevak
July 27, 2002
Our deepest sympathy to all of Johns family and friends. John was one of a kind and made my life a lot brighter for so many years. We worked at CMU for ten years together,and become very close friends. My wife and I are going to miss you so much. Thank you for being our friend. One day we will all hear that great laugh again. We love you John. Never forget that. May God bless you.
kevin wulf
July 27, 2002
Hondo,
always the late night snacker at the tavern, but it was desert that kept us up those many late nights. No more frosty's for us no more. In honor of you i give you my straw.
Kevin
kelly nedley ryan
July 27, 2002
nathan as i called john, my heart goes out to you wherever you are.
Our friendship was one i will never forget. I miss you and love you.
Kelly Nedley Ryan
Jack Klemm
July 27, 2002
Hondo,
It was hard to wake up this morning knowing that I won't be able to call you today with a tradition we shared every saturday. I'm going to miss you! From Mill St. to Donnies and JFK in between. So here it is buddy for the last time "TURN ON THE BLUES".
Anna Marie Ryan
July 27, 2002
To Bob, Tam and the entire Theiss family
We are very sorry for your loss. Our deepest sympathy and prayers are with all of you.
Anna Marie, Jim and Pam Ryan
Dan & Lynda (Sutkus) Kregar
July 26, 2002
Our sympathy goes out to your family.
Colleen Sloan-Kent
July 26, 2002
To The Theiss Family,
My prayer and sympathy for your loss. Hondo inspires memories of tobys, picking grapes, release and kick the can....simplier times. He is here in our memories and for that I will always be grateful. God Bless you and yours.
Chris & Kim Alles (Keane)
July 26, 2002
The Theiss Family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this very trying time. Hondo could always put a smile on everyone's face. He will be sadly missed by many people.
MAXINE Stead-Babjak
July 25, 2002
To The Theiss Family,
Hondo will be sadly missed and always remembered! I know no words can comfort at a time like this, but know that God has him now and he'll shine down on all of us!
May he rest in peace, AMEN.
LOVE YOU HONDO!
XOXO, MACKEY AND CHILDREN.
Jamie Longstreth
July 25, 2002
My sympathy to John's family and friends, from an old St. James school alumnus.
Jack and Marie (Stead) Pasley
July 25, 2002
To The Theiss Family: Our deepest sympathies to all of you at this very, very sad time. Although I moved away from Wilkinsburg in 1983, my brother Josh Stead and my sister Maxine (Stead) Babjak were still very close to Hondo. We all have different memories of Hondo and we were very glad that we were blessed with his friendship. He will forever be in our hearts. May he rest in peace.
Gary and Robin Capuano
July 25, 2002
Our deepest sympathies go out to the entire Theiss family. We know how hard it is for you at this time.
Hondo was such a great guy, always smiling. Takes us both back to the so many memories we all shared growing up in Wilkinsburg.
Please know that we are thinking of all of you and keeping you close in our thoughts and prayers.
Gary and Robin (Hedges) Capuano
Brian Cuda
July 25, 2002
To the entire Theiss family,
You have my deepest sympathy at this very trying time. Please know that Hondo was so loved and will be greatly missed. He was such a good friend to my wife and me. We will carry our memories with us in our hearts forever, and I hope you can find some comfort in knowing that he is in the arms of his father, where he now will have eternal peace.
Hondo,
Les and I will miss and love you always! (Make sure you and Billy White reserve that pool table for us when we meet again some day.)Rest in peace, dear friend.
Tabitha Visco
July 25, 2002
John,
I will never forget your beautiful smiles that made me so happy and I will truly miss laughing with you. Just remember that Jennifer and I will always remember you and your best lipreading!! You were the best person and friend to us! You will be greatly missed!
Tabitha Visco
carol schirano
July 25, 2002
John,God bless you and your family I know what there going through right now. Ill pray for you . carol (CMU)
Colleen Dapper McCafferty
July 25, 2002
To the Theiss family:
You have our deepest sympathy. We certainly know the pain you are suffering. The only solace is to know that Hondo is in a much better place and that perhaps he is finding the peace he was looking for. The loss of a sibling at such a young age is very heartwrenching. Somehow death takes us back through our early lives growing up in Wilkinsburg when we were young and everything seemed so simple. Know that you are in our thoughts. We will be praying for him and for you.
With love and sympathy,
Colleen & Tom McCafferty & Family
MiMi (Brashear) Shento
July 25, 2002
To the Theiss Family: Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this difficult time. Hondo, you leave us with so many memories, going back all the way to St. James. May you rest in peace.
Jim and Mimi (Brashear) Shento
Kerry Dalmasse
July 25, 2002
This is not at all how we thought it was supposed to be.
We had so many plans for you - we had so many dreams.
But now you've gone away and left us with the memory of your smile
And nothing we can say - and nothing we can do
Can take away the pain - the pain of losing you ....
But we can cry with hope.
We can say good-bye with hope.
Because we know our good-bye is not the end - oh no!
And we can grieve with hope,
Because we believe with hope -
There's a place where we'll see your face again!
Never have I known anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more the wisdom of God's plan.
But through a cloud of tears, I see the Father smile and say well done!
And I imagine you - where you wanted most to be,
Making all your dreams come true
Because you're home and now you're free ....
And we can cry with hope.
We can say good-bye with hope.
Because we know our good-bye is not the end - oh no!
And we can grieve with hope -
For we believe with hope -
There's a place where we'll see your face again!
We'll see your face again!
We have this hope as an anchor for we believe everything God promised us is true.
So we can cry with hope and say good-bye with hope.
We wait with hope and we ache with hope.
We hold on with hope - and we let go with hope ......
Hondo,
I don't need to tell you what you have meant to me over the course of our 35 year friendship. I will forever cherish your smile and how it brightened up the darkest of nights, your sense of humor that could dry a tearful eye in an instant, and a hug that not only touched the body - but embraced the soul! I'd like to say I'll miss you - but I know better. Our souls will remain connected forever ....
and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the gift of your friendship. Rest now, my dear, true friend .... until we meet again. I love you!
To the Theiss family ......
I wish you strength, perserverance, light and love at such a trying time. Please know that John was loved by many and that our prayers are with you all now and forever.
God bless you all ......
With deepest heartfelt sympathy,
Kerry Dalmasse Hopper
Ed & Elsie Keane & Family
July 25, 2002
Hondo,
Our deepest sympathy are with you at this very tragic time, we will always remember the times on Mill St. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.
Eric Buterbaugh
July 25, 2002
To the Theis family,
You have my deepest sympathy. John was a good friend. I will miss him very much. Donny's Bar will never be the same without him. Anyone that knew him loved him. I know he is in Heaven with his father that he spoke of often. Rest in peace, John.
Lori
July 25, 2002
HONDO......
ALWAYS REMEMBERED,
NEVER FORGOTTEN
Scott & Carla Corna
July 25, 2002
Hondo,
You are in our thoughts and prayers at this time. We will certianly miss your great sense of humor, and how you always would brighten up a room when you entered.
Patti Crombie (Balochko)
July 25, 2002
Hondo,
May you find the peace you were looking for and may all of your family and friends that you left behind be comforted by knowing that you are in a better place.
We go back a long way and I have always enjoyed our friendship. Rest now, my friend.
Leslie Cuda
July 25, 2002
Hondo,
I will miss you forever! You will always hold such a special place in my heart, and I will never forget all the great times we had on our pool team a few years back. May you find eternal peace and love (as you are now with your dad again, which I'm sure will give you so much love), and I will look forward to the day that we will see each other again!!! You're in my heart always!!! Be happy, my friend!
chris mcshane
July 25, 2002
Dear, hondo i am very sorry that you are no longer with us.
I will never forget your warm
smiles and caring personality.
i have a 3 month old baby who would
have loved to have met you. Make sure you have the tap flowing at the pearly gate tavern, cause i want
to toast a draft with you when we meet again. Take care buddy!
Chris mcshane
Barbara Knolle
July 24, 2002
Jonny- You'll be missed my old friend! I speak for the fearsome foursome when I say we loved you, we all will miss you dearly, and we'll never forget the many years of good times and hard times. See you on the other side friend! XX OO
Barb, Char, Catherine and Sharon
Catherine Crawford
July 24, 2002
Dear Hondo,
Thank you for the gift of music you gave to me. I will miss singing Nat King Cole and James Croce with you. You will always be in my thoughts and prayers and there will always be a song in my heart for you.
Andrea Fedoronko
July 24, 2002
Our deepest sympathy to the family. You are in our thoughts and prayers at this very trying time. Love, Andrea, George, Fallon and Jessica Fedoronko
Rita Witt
July 24, 2002
John and I had a lot of laughs and fun together at CMU. I'm sorry for this loss.
Steven Feinberg
July 24, 2002
John I will miss your good sense of humor and smile.
Hondo you were always a good person to chat with.
I remeber you from the old Mill Street Wilkinsburg Days.
God Bless and God rest your soul.
From the Feinberg and Breitbard Family.
DALE AND ANGIE WEBER (MATTAROCHIA)
July 24, 2002
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH ALL OF YOU AT THIS VERY SAD TIME.
Jim & Diane McClure
July 24, 2002
John ("Hondo"),
We will never forget you and all of the great memories of growing up together in good old Wilkinsburg. We extend our deepest sympathy to your family. God Bless.
Cathy DeLuca (Brashear)
July 24, 2002
God has chosen for him a new path. May joyful memories carry you through this tragic time and lead you to brighter tomorrows.
Terri Watson
July 24, 2002
We can't tell you enough how sorry we are for your loss. Please take comfort in your good memories. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Love,
John, Terri, Mike & David Watson
Lloyd and Wilma Kirk
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