Thomas M. Viencek
Thomas M. Viencek, age 76, of Rices Landing, Pa., and formerly of Brownsville, Pa., passed away after a lengthy five year illness at his home on Friday, September 22, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
He was born on November 7, 1940 in Brownsville, Pa., son of the late Thomas J. and Mildred (Mulligan) Viencek.
Thomas attended Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church and parochial school in Brownsville, Pa.
At Saint John’s High School in Uniontown, Pa., he was active in the Debate Club, basketball, and participated in high school musicals and plays.
He joined the United States Army in 1959 and served proudly in the military for three years. His service included time spent in Germany.
He was a member of the Rices Landing American Legion.
Thomas was a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education on September 18, 1971. He then went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Education also from California University of Pennsylvania.
He spent his teaching career with the Intermediate Unit I in Waynesburg, Pa., from October 7, 1971 until his retirement on June 30, 2003. He was actively involved with the Junior Academy of Science for many years.
His lifelong involvement with archaeology also included membership in the California Archaeology Society.
He was active in community-related projects in Rices Landing and served on City Council.
He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rices Landing.
He and his family had a baseball card business for twenty years called T.L.T. Enterprises, which was named for his three children. He was the co-owner of several baseball card and comic book shops.
Tom is survived by his daughter, Tamara S. Burnsworth and fiance Paul Kessler of Belle Vernon, Pa.; two sons: Thomas R. Viencek and wife Linda (Schmidt) and step-son Gabriel Schmidt of Rices Landing, Pa., and Louis M. Viencek of Rices Landing, Pa.; grandson, Paul Braden Kessler Jr.; brother, Robert S. Viencek of Salem, Ohio; and cousins: Michele (Mulligan) Kendig and husband Martin of Thousand Oaks California, Dr. Wallace J. Mulligan of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Cheryl Tarnow of Raleigh, North Carolina, Walter Duda of New Salem, Pa., James Duda of Camden, Missouri, Joyce Mattey and husband George of West Brownsville, Pa.
Friends will be received in the SKIRPAN FUNERAL HOME, 135 Park Street, Brownsville, Pa., on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and on Wednesday until 10:30 a.m. when a Prayer Service will be held followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. at The Historic Church of Saint Peter in Brownsville, Pa., with Reverend Father Alvin Enal Cabungcal as Celebrant and assisted by Pastor Katy Brungraber of Fort Burd United Presbyterian Church.
Interment will follow in LaFayette Memorial Park where full Military Rites will be accorded.
www.skirpanfuneral home.com