Michael A. Mazur

Michael A. Mazur

Michael A. Mazur, 73, of Hometown, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in the St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital, Coaldale. He was the husband of Janice (Ceci) Mazur, to whom he was married for 49 years.

A longtime resident of Tamaqua, he was a son of the late Walter A. and Anna M. (Yucikas) Mazur.

As a youth, he worked the family farm in Still Creek. He grew up helping at the family business of Walt's Drive In and Restaurant and its driving range. He was instrumental in the building of the Par Three Golf Course and planting of a tree farm.

Michael was a 1968 graduate of Marian Catholic High School. He continued his education at Penn State University, Main, where he received a bachelor of science degree in Forest Science in 1972.

After graduation, he worked for the Carbon County Commissioners as Gypsy Moth Coordinator. Then, in 1993, he was foreman for Environmental Landscape, Mt. Pocono. He was a dock foreman for Roadway Express, Inc., until landing a job with the DER Bureau of Forestry as Forest Lookout in March 1975.

Later, he became Forest Patrolman, Forest Inspector, and then Service Forester. In 1992, he held the position of Forest Assistant District Manager until his retirement in 2017.

During his forestry employment, Mike received numerous awards. Notable was the acquisition and distribution of over 20 million dollars worth of federal excess equipment, some of which were distributed to area fire companies. In 2001, he was awarded the Secretary's Performance Excellence Award.

After retirement, he kept busy helping others with numerous projects. For the most part, he could fix anything and if he didn't know how, he would research the internet to find out how. He had a wealth of knowledge and people confided in him a lot. He was kept busy with his six children, transporting and going to baseball, basketball and volleyball games.

He was an avid follower of the Phillies baseball, Penn State football and basketball and Eagles football. He was instrumental in the installation of the lights for the Tamaqua Little League field, where his sons played.

At home, he enjoyed spending time with his wife. He watched the news and anything that was connected with history, building things or archaeology. Mike loved to go fishing with his sons.

Michael was a member of St. John XXIII Catholic Church, Tamaqua. He was an extremely devoted family man. He honored God, took care of his family and had an avid work ethic. Every day, he strived to "do one good deed." He tried all the time to make people laugh. Michael wanted to be remembered as being "A good man."

Surviving in addition to his widow are daughters, Adrienne, wife of Eric Orach of Lehighton, Angela, wife of Lance Ferree of York, and Annmarie, wife of Robert Van Norman of Hometown; sons, Michael Jr., husband of Brandy Jarrell, of Catasauqua, and Mark, husband of Jaclyn DeTore, of York; a sister, Marcella (Mazur) Huber, wife of John (Jack) Huber of Jim Thorpe; grandchildren, Gabriel and Samuel Van Norman, Liliana and Anthony Ferree and Griffin Louis Mazur; and many nieces and nephews, a grandniece and grandnephews.

He was also predeceased by an infant daughter in 1976; a daughter Leanne, who died in 2015; and three brothers, Benjamin, Walter and Leon.

Service: Mass of Christian Burial11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, St. John XXIII Catholic Church, 307 Pine St., Tamaqua. Interment, Sky-View Memorial Park, Hometown. Call 10-11 a.m. Saturday in the church. Contributions in his name may be made to the Tamaqua Community Ambulance Assoc., 98 N. Railroad St., Tamaqua, PA 18252, or the Hometown Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, 45 Mahanoy Ave., Tamaqua, PA 18252.