Obituaries Surnames A-J Submitted by Smerek Group Researchers

American Motorcyclist Assoc. He is survived by his wife; Judy (Waite) Gavlak; two
sons, Allan and Chris, both of Mechanicsburg, his mother, Mary Warholic Gavlak of
Houtzdale; three brothers Joseph of Houtzdale, Robert of Madera and Ronald of
Huntingdon; and two sisters Mary Murawski of Houtzdale and Joanne Lazeration of
Exeter, NJ. Mr. Gavlak was preceded in death by his father, Joseph and a brother
Michael. A mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Joseph's RC in Mechanicsburg.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the church building fund. (The
Progress, Clearfield, PA, Oct 2, 2001, pg.16)
GAVLAK, Mary (Warholic)
HOUTZDALE – Funeral services for Mary Gavlak, 98, of Houtzdale will be held
Monday, Oct.20, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, Houtzdale, with
the Rev. Father Gregory Kirsch officiating. Mrs. Gavlak died Friday, Oct. 17, at home.
Interment will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Brisbin. Friends will be received Sunday,
Oct. 19, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Birger A. Freeberg Funeral Home Inc. Houtzdale. The
rosary will be recited by Christ the King Catholic Church Altar Society at 3:30 p.m. and
the Rev. Kirsch will hold a Vigil Prayer Service at 8:45 p.m., both Sunday, Oct 19, at the
funeral home. Born Nov. 21, 1909, at Windber, she was a daughter of Basilius and
Catherine (Bilesz) Warholic. Mrs. Gavlak was a Catholic by faith and was a member of
Christ the King Catholic Church and Christ the King Church Altar and Rosary Society.
She was a homemaker. On Feb. 3, 1934, at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, she
wed Joseph Michael Gavlak, who preceded her in death. Mrs. Gavlak is survived by five
children, Marie and her husband, Charles Murawski, Joseph Gavlak and his wife,
Jeanette, Robert Gavlak and his wife Pam, and Ronald Gavlak, all of Houtzdale, and
Joanna and her husband Paul Lazeration, of Linden, N.J.; 14 grandchildren; 14 greatgrandchildren,
two daughters-in-law, Judy (Waite) Gavlak of Mechanicsburg and Joyce
(Waite) Gavlak of Brisbin; and a number of nieces and nephews. She was the last of her
generation. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; two
sons, Michael and Albert; one grandson, Steven Murawski; four brothers, John, Charles,
Harry and George; two sisters, Anna Laskosky and Nancy Swistock. Memorial
contributions can be made to Clearfield Home Health and Hospice.
GAVLAK, Robert S.
Robert S. Gavlak, 73, of Houtzdale was called to be with the Lord on Sunday, Oct. 6,
2013 at 7:37 PM at his home with his loved ones at his side. Bob was born on July 2,
1940 at Woodward Twp. a son of the late Joseph and Mary (Warholic) Gavlak. He
graduated from the former Houtzdale Woodward Brisbin High School in 1958 and served
in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1958 - 1964. Bob retired as a heavy equipment mechanic
from Beckwith Machinery, now Cleveland Brothers. Bob was a parishioner of St.
Francis Catholic Church, Clearfield. He was a member of the International Union of
Engineers, Local 66 for over 40 years; a member of the American Legion Freeberg Post
#591, Houtzdale and the VFW Post 3450, Philipsburg, he a was a former officer and
member of the Morann Rod and Gun Club, Morann. On Sept. 20, 2008, Bob married
Pam (Reitmyer) Gavlak who survives at home. They renewed their wedding vows on
Sept. 20, 2013 at St. Francis Catholic Church, Clearfield. Bob and Pam shared a life
together for 28 years. Bob is survived by daughters, Tina Reed and her husband Dave of