William E. Bierbower
Born February 1, 1932 • Went to be with our Lord on Friday, October 15, 2004
William E. Bierbower, 72, of North Huntingdon, went to be with the Lord on Friday, Oct. 15, 2004. He was born Feb. 1, 1932, in Jeannette, the son of the late William and Pearl Johnston Bierbower.
He was retired from the former West Penn Electric Co. (Allegheny Power) with 42 years of service. He was a volunteer fireman for 45 years with the Fairmont-Hahntown Volunteer Fire Department and a former volunteer with Rescue 8, North Huntingdon. William was a member of the Westmoreland County, Western Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania State Firemen's Associations. He was a member of The Church in Sutersville.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth. Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Joan Koter Bierbower; six children, Bill Bierbower and his wife, Chris, of Rector, Debra Devey and her husband, Brad, of West Virginia, Dennis Bierbower and his wife, Kathy, of North Huntingdon, Korin Paul and her husband, Rick, of Lowber, Karen Booley and her husband, Pat, of Norvelt, and Becky Stouffer and her husband, Jim, of Norvelt; 20 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Jean Petrosky and her husband, Bill, of Greensburg.
Friends will be received Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the JOSEPH F. OTT FUNERAL HOME INC., 504 Oak St., Irwin. Additional visitation will take place Sunday from 3 to 9 p.m. at The Church, in Sutersville, where a service will be held Monday at 11 a.m. with Pastor Frank Rocco officiating. Interment will follow in Twin Valley Memorial Park, Delmont. The firemen will hold a service Sunday at 7 p.m. at The Church. John F. Ott, assisting the family with arrangements.
Published in Greensburg Tribune Review on Oct. 16, 2004
ROLL OF HONOR
William Bierbower
Firefighter
Fairmont-Hahntown Volunteer Fire Department
Pennsylvania
Age: 72
Year of Death: 2004
Submitted by his daughter
He was born February 1 1932‚ William Edward Bierbower‚ everyone called him Bill…
Bill was a good man‚ he was well known everywhere he went‚ and everyone loved him. I have never met a single person that had anything but good things to say about him. Bill was the kind of man that would give you the shirt off his back‚ he would do anything he could to help someone in need. He played an important role in his family‚ his church‚ and his community. He dedicated more than half of his life to helping others. Bill was a former volunteer for Rescue 8‚ he was a volunteer fireman‚ and he was a member of the Westmoreland County‚ Western Pennsylvania‚ and Pennsylvania State Fireman’s Association.
Bill volunteered for the Fairmont-Hahntown Volunteer Fire Company for 45 years‚ he served in several line officer positions before becoming a life member‚ and he received the ‘Most Calls’ award several times. He has seen junior firemen turn into Assistant Chiefs. The other firemen saw him as a role model‚ a teacher‚ and a friend. They knew they could always count on Bill‚ whether it was for advice‚ encouragement‚ a ride to the firehall or just his silly grin that let them know that everything was going to be OK. Bill was known as the firehall prankster‚ always making people laugh‚ and he used that laughter to help others relax and do the job that needed to be done.
Bill loved being a fireman‚ and he saw many different types of emergencies through the years‚ and no matter what type of call‚ he was always ready‚ if his monitor went off‚ away he went‚ putting his own life on hold to help someone else‚ and on October 15‚ 2004‚ it wasn’t any different‚ the whistle blew and off he went‚ saying ‘I’ll be right back’ as he walked out of the door for the last time.
That night before Bill could pull the fire truck out of the garage‚ they were cancelled‚ and moments later while he was talking with the other firemen‚ he collapsed‚ and suddenly his fellow fireman went from trying to assist another station‚ to trying to save one of their own.
Bill was an excellent fireman‚ he always remained calm and did what needed to be done‚ and he loved driving those fire trucks‚ but Bill was more than a fireman‚ for 50 years almost 51 ‚ he was a loving husband to Joan Bierbower. Bill and Joan got married when he was twenty one and she was seventeen‚ and they were always together‚ two peas in a pod‚ they were the couple that other couples admired‚ because after all those years they were still so much in love. For almost as many years he was a father‚ Bill and Joan had six children‚ two boys‚ and four girls‚ William II‚ Dennis and Debra (twins)‚ Korin and Karen (twins)‚ and Rebecca. Bill was the heart of his family‚ he was strong and caring‚ patient and kind‚ and he was so much fun‚ always smiling‚ always joking‚ and together with his wife they created a home filled with love and laughter and many happy memories that will never be forgotten. Bill later bacame known by another name‚ and that was Pappy‚ he had twenty grandchildren and three great grandchildren‚ and he was loved by every one of them.
Bill worked hard for everything he had‚ he retired with 42 years at the former West Penn Power Company. Bill loved life‚ and he enjoyed every minute of it‚ some of his favorite things were spending time with his family‚ taking long rides (and getting lost‚} reading the newspaper with a good cup of coffee‚ washing his car‚ mowing his lawn and watching his favorite football team‚ the Cleveland Browns on TV. Bill also loved the Lord‚ and he spent many Sundays praising Him and thanking Him for the gifts in his life‚ and Bill knew without a doubt that one day they would meet in Heaven‚ and that day came October 15‚ 2004. For those of us he left behind‚ it was way too soon‚ but he will remain forever in our hearts and a part of him lives on in each of us.
Bill always said ‘I’m gonna live to be 100’‚ and everyone believed him‚ he was only 72 when God whispered his name.
I also praise the Lord and I thank Him for one of the greatest gifts He gave to me‚ my Hero…my Dad.
Herb Gross • James J. "Jimmy Joe" Ramsey • Leslie C. Stough • James E. Winterbottom II
William E. Bierbower • Marlene A. Minkus • Alvin L. "Tex" Kearns • Joseph L. Kansky
Nelson Leroy Miller, Jr. • Enes Rocco • Frank Rocco
Marlene A. Minkus
Born April 7, 1936 • Went to be with our Lord on Thursday, September 16, 2004
Marlene A. Minkus, 68, of Sutersville, died Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004, in Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh.
She was born April 7, 1936, in Sutersville, a daughter of the late Anton and Edith Zachetti Drager. She was a member of The Church, Sutersville.
She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Kenneth L. Minkus; two daughters, Kenna Minkus Abramski and husband, Charles, of West Newton, and Laurie Minkus, of Sutersville; a granddaughter, Kaia Marlene Abramski; her twin sister, Arlene Drager, of Sutersville; a niece, Toni Novak, of Apopka, Fla.; and two great-nieces and a great-nephew, Amanda, Stephanie and Frankie Novak.
Friends will be received in the J. WILLIAM McCAULEY JR. FUNERAL HOME INC., 901 Vine St., West Newton, Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. only, and Sunday from 3 to 9 p.m. in The Church, Sutersville. Funeral service will be Monday at 11 a.m. in The Church with Pastor Frank A. Rocco officiating. Interment in West Newton Cemetery.
