Leslie "Butch" Van Blargen

Leslie “Butch” Van Blargen, 92, of Rock Glen passed away Monday at Fritzingertown Senior Living Community, Drums.

Born in Tomhicken, February 25, 1926, he was the son of the late Harvey and Florence (Hutton) Van Blargen and spent the past 65 years in Rock Glen after moving from Tomhicken.

Butch was a retired crane operator for Bethlehem Steel, and a member of Faith Assembly of God Church, Hazle Twp. He was a proud American, who served with the US Navy during WWII.  He was a great man with a kind heart, who would do anything for anyone.  He was a jack of all trades and a master of them all.  He loved to garden and was very proud of his cucumbers, tomatoes and flowers.

He was preceded in death, in addition to his parents, by his wife the former Alice Jane Bankes who passed March 22, 2014; a brother Lewis Van Blargen; and a son-in-law Robert Zullo Sr.

Surviving are two daughters Kathleen “Kathy” Zullo, Hazleton; and Trudy Jane Yaskanich, Chula Vista, CA; five grandchildren Maria, Robert Jr., and David Zullo; and Tabitha and Heidi Yaskanich; seven great-grandchildren Shelby and Caitlin Richardson, Alexis Zullo, Rhianna, David, and Dylan Zullo, and Cora Zullo, one great-great granddaughter Noemi Starks-Richardson; two sisters Lorraine Davies and her husband David, Tomhicken; and Ellen Witner, Freeland; and several nieces and nephews.

His military funeral will be held with a memorial service Saturday at Noon from Harman Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc. (West) 1265 Rock Glen Road, Rock Glen. Interment will follow the service in Mt Grove Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Saturday morning from 10 am until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org or the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.  Online condolences can be entered and more information is available at www.harmanfuneral.com.

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