Herbert James Wiedlich, 78, a resident of Brooks Estates, Jenkins Township, and formerly of North Loveland Avenue, Kingston, passed into eternal life on Friday evening, January 31, 2025, at the Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Dallas, where he was a guest for the past month.
His loving wife is Rose Ann Yarmel. Herb and Rose were looking forward to celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary on May 5th.
Born on June 27, 1946, in Wilkes-Barre, Herb was one of five children born to the late Frederick James Wiedlich and Mary Elizbeth Toole Wiedlich.
Raised in the Rolling Mill Hill section of Wilkes-Barre, Herb was a graduate of the former E.L. Meyers High School, Class of 1964.
A United States Army veteran, Herb honorably served his country during the Vietnam War. Stationed in Vietnam for nearly two years, he served as an electronics device repairman on the battlefront, and upon his honorable discharge on February 05, 1968, he attained the rank of Specialist 5.
Prior to his retirement, Herb was employed for 39 years as a lineman for PPL Electric Utilities, Wilkes-Barre.
A man of strong faith, Herb was a member of Trucksville United Methodist Church, Trucksville. Never forgetting his Catholic roots, he attended Mass faithfully at Saint Ann’s Chapel, Kingston, for many years.
Herb was a strong proponent of soccer and helped bring soccer to the Wyoming Valley. He first served as assistant soccer coach at Dallas High School, helping to bring the team to the AA Finals and ending as runner up. He then helped initiate the soccer program at his alma mater, E.L. Meyers High School, Wilkes-Barre, serving as head coach for many years, and leading the team to the Wyoming Valley Conference.
Herb was a member of the American Legion, Post 815, Wilkes-Barre Township; a past member of the Irem Shriners; and a past member of the Irem Temple Country Club. For many years. he actively worked out at Danko’s Fitness Center, Plains Township, where he was dubbed the “unofficial mayor” and coined the nickname “Herb-a-licious.”
Those who truly knew Herb can attest to his eye for landscape design, building, and decorating. His yard on North Loveland Avenue was meticulously crafted with his hand-laid paver walkways, and his hand-built koi pond, gazebo, deck and storage shed. Herb could have honestly been an architect with his eye for making use of every single square inch of a home! He was also very artistic when it came to woodworking, crafting cherished pieces of art and his famous walking sticks, and, with his expertise in electrical, he even wired the homes of his family and friends over the years.
Taking up golf in his fifties, Herb, in true Wiedlich fashion, made it his life mission to master the game. He enjoyed endless golf outings with his family and friends, although, as a Wiedlich, he may have sometimes taken the sport a little too serious!
Above everything this kind, gentle man attained in life, nothing could parallel the love and devotion he had for his family. As a husband, he was loving, attentive, and fiercely devoted; as a dad, he was a constant rock of support and guidance; as an Opa (Grandpa), he was proud and reveled in all of Alex and Chloe’s accomplishments; as a brother, he linked the past with the present with his wittiness and wisdom; and as an uncle, he was a source of wise advice and constant encouragement. To say he loved his whole family with every ounce of his being is an understatement.
When the angels came for Herb on Friday evening, surely the harpists played the more upbeat tune of “Wooly Bully” so Herb could dance his way through the pearly gates to his favorite song.
In addition to his parents, Fred and Mary, Herb was preceded in death by his brother, Terrance F. Wiedlich.
Left to cherish Herb’s memory are his wife, Rose Yarmel; his son, Carl Wiedlich and his wife, Amy, Mountaintop; his daughter, Leigh Ann Wiedlich and her partner, Jason Jarecki, Plains Township; his grandchildren, Alex and Chloe Wiedlich, both of Mountaintop; his brothers, Paul T. Wiedlich Sr., and his wife, Mary Pat, Wilkes-Barre; Fred K. Wiedlich and his wife, Debbie, West Wyoming; his sister, Mary Louise Trzeciak, Mountaintop; his in-laws; his numerous nieces and nephews; his dear friend, Dale Metzger; his dear friend since childhood, Billy Fey; his beloved dog, Gracie; as well as countless friends.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Herb’s funeral service which will be celebrated on Thursday, February 06, 2025, at 2:00 PM at the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, with the Reverend Dr. Paul C. Amara, Pastor of Trucksville United Methodist Church, officiating. Military Honors will be accorded by the United States Army at the conclusion of the funeral service.
A private family burial will be in the Wiedlich family plot in Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Hanover Township.
Family and friends are invited to Herb’s viewing which will take place on Wednesday, February 05, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, with services at 6:00 PM by the American Legion, Post 815. A second viewing will be held Thursday morning from 1:00 PM until the time of the service.
To share a memory of Herb or message of condolence with his family, you may visit the funeral home website, www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com, or Facebook page.
The family kindly requests that floral offerings be omitted and memorial contributions be made in Herb’s memory to Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge, 947 Lockville Road, Dallas, PA 18612; The Cancer Wellness Center of NEPA, 190 Welles Street, Suite 166, Forty Fort, PA 18704; or to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.
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