Obituary for Robert Dale Konopka
Robert Dale Konopka, 76, of Ringtown, Pa. passed away on Friday July 15, 2016 peacefully with his family by his bedside at the Medstar Washington (Heart and Vascular Institute) Hospital in Washington D.C. Bob was born January 7, 1940 in Shenandoah, Pa., a son of the late Warren and Hulda Rumbel, Ringtown. He graduated from the Ringtown High School, Ringtown, Pa., in 1957. On November 25, 1961 he married Helen Ann Wagner at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Ashland, Pa. Bob was a Coal Miner, Heavy Equipment Operator and Mechanic. Bob treasured growing up on his grandparent’s (Ellis & Dola Shoup) farm in Ringtown. His favorite hobbies, during his high school years, were building “hot rod” cars, swimming and diving at Ideal Park, Numidia, Pa. and courting the love of his life “Annie”. In November 1961 he married Helen Ann Wagner and moved to Lansdale, Pa looking for steady work as a welder at Wheeler Weld. It wasn’t long after their move that Bob was drafted for the Vietnam War. He never made it past a physical examination because he was tone deaf. Bob soon found mining as his steady income. He worked in the underground mines first in and around Centralia, Ashland and Mount Carmel and then operated a dragline at Kerris & Helfrick, Mt. Carmel. Then due to the United Coal Miner’s Union strike in the late 80’s ended up at Reading Anthracite operating a 475 Kamatsu Dozer for the remainder of his career. He so loved the Mountain Road in the valley. It was a farm field with fishing ponds, he once worked with Arthur Hetherington. Soon after buying the farm he installed a sawmill in the barn and started building their home. Bob was a member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, Centralia and a member of the United Coal Miners Union. He is survived by his wife Helen Ann, two daughters: Karen Abdiroglu and her husband Juma of Ringtown, Pa., and Suzanne Rinker and her husband Anthony of Elverson, Pa; four grandchildren Brandon Abdiroglu and his companion Julie Hetherington, Colin Abdiroglu and his wife Meggan all of Ringtown. AJ and Ava Rinker of Elverson, Pa. One Brother Jim Rumbel and one sister Donna Frederick both of Ringtown, two uncles Ronald Shoup and Kermit Shoup and his wife Marie of Ringtown, one Aunt Marie Lapotsky and her husband John and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one Sister Lynn Felegi. KONOPKA — Robert Dale Konopka, 76, of Ringtown. Divine Liturgy will be held 11 a.m. Friday at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Centralia. Interment will be at the family farm in Ringtown. Visitation will be held Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of Liturgy at the Church. Joseph J. Stutz Inc. Funeral Home, 40 S. Market St., Mount Carmel, Joseph J. Stutz III, supervisor, is in charge of arrangements.
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