Louis Wegie Prete

Louis "Wegie" Prete, 86, of Bobtown, Pa., died at 10:33 P.M. on Saturday, January 12, 2013 in his home. He was born February 26, 1926 in Masontown, Pa., a son of the late Nazarene and Anna (Rossi) Prete. Mr. Prete resided in Bobtown most of his life where he was a member of the St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish. He served with the U. S. Navy during World War II in the South Pacific. Mr. Prete and his brother, Orlando, owned and operated Prete's Texaco in Dilliner from 1953 until 1983. He was a member of the Bobtown Local of the United Mine Workers of America, a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3491, Carmichaels, American Legion Post 499, Point Marion, Pa., the Polish Club in Bobtown and the Bobtown Rod and Gun Club. In 1987, Mr. Prete retired from the Shannopin Mine in Bobtown. He enjoyed watching sports, hunting, fishing and playing cards. On October 15, 1948, Mr. Prete married J. Louise Hicks, who died December 11, 2012. Surviving are a son, Gary L. Prete of Smithton, Pa.; a daughter, Donna K. Pekar and her husband, Les, of Clarksville, Pa.; four grandchildren, Tracy J. Pekar, Kristie K. Rohrer, Jennifer E. Skumlien and Jessica L. Garnek; six great grandchildren, Dylan Rohrer, Karissa Rohrer, Stephen Skumlien, Timothy Skumlien, Isabella Garnek and Isaiah Garnek; a brother, Orlando Prete of Dilliner; a sister, Doris Lewandowski of Warren, Mich. and several nieces and nephews. Deceased are a daughter, Sharon A. Hockin and a sister, Mary Yancich. Family and friends are welcome from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. on Tuesday in the Yoskovich Funeral Home, Carmichaels, PA 15320 where a blessing service will be held at 10:15 A.M. on Wednesday, January 16, 2013, followed at 11:00 A.M. by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Ignatius of Antioch Roman Catholic Church, Bobtown, with the Rev. Lawrence V. Holpp as celebrant. Interment will follow at Monongahela Hill Cemetery, Mapletown, Pa. with military honors accorded by Cumberland American Legion Post 400, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3491 and the United States Navy.