Rev. Christopher C. Wollyung

Rev. Christopher C. Wollyung, 66, passed away suddenly on Sunday April 23rd 2017 in Friendship, Wisconsin where he was visiting with his family. Pastor Chris, as he was affectionately known, was born in East Stroudsburg on March 14, 1951, a son of the late Nellie (Erhgood) and Edward Wollyung.

Christopher graduated from East Stroudsburg High School, and later received an Associates of Arts degree from Lackawanna Junior College and a Certificate from the Course of Study at Wesley Seminary in Washington D.C.

Christopher was truly a “Jack-of-all-trades,”  having held many positions. He did everything from maintenance to cab driving to being a licensed real estate broker.  It was later in life that God called this hard-working, compassionate man into the ministry.

Christopher was appointed by the United Methodist Church to Ringtown, where he served as pastor for  fifteen years. During that time he also served the Davis Chapel UMC in Zion Grove. During Chris' twenty-three years in the ministry, he also served the United Methodist churches in Girardville and Shenandoah, but most recently in Mahanoy City for the last eight years.

Pastor Chris served for twenty-three years as Executive Chair of the Hazleton Enlarged Ministry, was Chair of the Schuylkill County Drug and Alcohol Committee and served on the Schuylkill County Suicide Prevention Task Force. He was a member of the F&AM, Lodge 611, a long-time donator for the American Red Cross and served as a guest chaplain for the Pennsylvania State Senate.

He was a hunter, a fisherman, and an avid metal detector treasure hunter. He loved the outdoors, animals, history and antiques, helping people and sharing his stories. He was self-less to a fault. He was always there for anyone who needed to talk. He was so comfortable to talk to, especially when you had a problem, because he always listened and understood and offered his input.

In addition to his parents, Pastor Chris was preceeded in death by his brother, Lamonte.

He is survived by his wife of thirty six years, Susan (Edelman) Wollyung, a son, Robert Wollyung and his wife Christine of Friendship, Wisconsin; a daughter Carol, wife of Dr. Thomas Deeble of Ringtown, and a daughter Jennifer Wollyung of Mahanoy City.

He is also survived by six grandchildren, six step-grandchildren and eight step-great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, April 30th, 2017 at 7PM at the First United Methodist Church, 400 East Mahanoy St., Mahanoy City officiated by the Rev. H. Joe Tyson, District Superintendent of the Northwest District of the United Methodist Church.  Relative and friends are invited to a viewing from 4-7 PM Sunday evening at the church prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are asked to be made to one of the following:  Hazleton Enlarged Ministry, 517 North Locust Street, Hazleton, PA  18201; the First United Methodist Church, 400 East Mahanoy Street, Mahanoy City, PA  17949; or the Aurand Memorial United Methodist Church, West Main Street, Ringtown, PA  17967.