Frederick W. Oleck

The Reverend Frederick W. Oleck, 80 years of age, retired pastor of the United Church of Christ passed away on Thursday June 13, 2013 in Weatherly.

Survived by his wife of forty-nine years, Jane (Craiglow) Oleck.

Born and raised in Weatherly, he was the son of the late Frederick S.W. and Violet T. (Woodring) Oleck. Reverend Oleck returned to Weatherly in retirement.

A 1950 Weatherly High School graduate, he worked at Tung-Sol electric in Weatherly for five years. Drafted into the Army in 1953, serving during the Korean War, he completed his basic training at Fort Campbell Kentucky, and then was sent to Germany for eighteen months. Fred was assigned to the NCO Academy in Augsburg where he originally was to teach sniper scope and rifle techniques; however, he became a clerk typist and mail clerk.

Fred attended Freeland MMI for a Post graduate course before entering Keystone Junior College at La Plume, Pa., receiving an Associate of Arts Degree in 1960. A member of Phi Theta Kappa Fraternity honorary society at Keystone, he then matriculated to Catawba College in Salisbury NC earning his BA in 1962. Fred attended Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, Pa., for one year, before graduating from Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pa., in 1965 with a Master of Divinity Degree.

Reverend Fred served the following churches: First Congregational United Church of Christ of Coaldale, Pa., from 1965 to 1966; Trinity United Church of Christ Freemansburg, Pa., from 1966 to 1971; Linfield United Church of Christ, Linfield, Pa. from 1971 to 1974; Zion Spies United Church of Christ, Reading, Pa. from 1974 to 1983; St. Peter's United Church of Christ, Easton, PA 1983 to 1994.

Serving on many committees during his pastorate, some of those were; the Red Cross Board of Service to Military Families in Bethlehem, Chairperson of the Church and Ministry Committee of East Berks Association of the Penn South East Conference in Reading.

Delivering Meals on Wheels for five years, Fred organized the Freemansburg Senior Citizens, for which he was honored by being bestowed as a junior member, for at the time he was only thirty-seven years of age. Rev. Fred established a grief support group in Easton, Pa. ushering spouses thru the loss of their companions.

Also survived by:

Sister, Betty (Oleck) and her husband Joseph Fessick of Manchester, NJ;

Brother-in-law, Eugene “Champ” Hinkle of Weatherly;

Nieces, Mrs. Jeanne Romanic of Kulpmont, Mrs. Cindy Mahalko of Weatherly, Mrs. Lynne Bender of Sayreville, NJ., Mrs. Lori Marshall of Princeton, NJ., Mrs. Lisa Marzak of E. Brunswick, NJ, and Mrs. Leanne Placonis of Midlothian, Va;

Preceded in death by a sister, Florence (Oleck) Hinkle in 2011.

Funeral Arrangements entrusted to the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street Weatherly, Pennsylvania, 18255.

Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday June 19, 2013 from Salem U.C.C., First Street Weatherly, Pa. 18255, at 11 o'clock A.M., the Reverends Nancy Hardy, and Dawn Richie to officiate.

Friends shall be received in church from 9:30 A.M. until time of services.

Interment with Military Honors, Union Cemetery, Weatherly, Pa.

Memorials in his name may be made to Weatherly Area High School Alumni Assoc. Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 37 Weatherly, Pa. 18255.

Online registry and condolences may be signed at www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com