Michael A. Klembara

Michael Andrew Klembara, Coal Township native and beloved father, son, brother, uncle, friend, and referee passed away July 10, 2023. He was 56 years old.

Michael was born in August of 1966 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania to Jane and Michael Klembara. Affectionately known as “Scoop” during his youth, he was a 1984 graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School in Coal Township, PA, where he played football, baseball, and wrestled. He began his collegiate studies at Susquehanna University before transferring to Pennsylvania State University where he met the love of his life, Anita (Aylmer).

He worked at World Electronics in Reading, PA for the last 12 years, though his true passion was always sports. Michael’s referee career spanned just shy of 40 years. In 1985, he began refereeing basketball before expanding into baseball and football. In 2011, he became a Division III Collegiate Football Referee for the Centennial Conference. In 2022, he was called up to be the referee for an NCAA Division I football game at Bucknell. He refereed many district, state, and champion level games, including two state championship football games, and the Easton vs. Phillipsburg football game on Thanksgiving Day — which meant that year’s dinner location had to be changed according to his football schedule. Regardless of skill level, youth to college championship, Michael took his role seriously and wanted to see the players have fun.

Michael was a quintessential do-it-yourself-er. With a garage that looks like Home Depot, he often had many simultaneous projects going on around the house. He was the first person his family and neighbors would call if they needed help with any project. He could do it all - take apart and reassemble a car engine, install hardwood floor, fix a septic system, you name it. He was generous with his time, often only accepting a cold beer or good conversation as a “thank-you.”

More than anything else, Michael was a family man. His wife, Anita, was and will continue to be the love of his life. The couple married in 1992; this year marks their 31st wedding anniversary. He adored his children, Michaela and Julia, which he often showed by lovingly antagonizing them. He was the life of every party and was quick to accept his nephew’s challenge to a dunk contest. He loved any time family was together, be that holidays, vacations, or a surprise drop-in for a beer.

He is survived by his wife, Anita Klembara; his daughters, Michaela and Julia; his parents, Jane and Michael; his brother, Andrew; his sisters, Melissa Klembara and Jennifer Klembara Gubernot; and his twelve nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass will be held Saturday, July 15, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. John the Baptist Church, 913 Mahantongo St. Pottsville, PA 17901. Family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues are invited to join the Klembara family for food and drinks at a celebration of Michael’s life from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM at St. Nicholas Hall, 855 Sunbury Rd, Minersville, PA 17954. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship for local athletes is being set up in Michael’s name. For more information or to make a donation, contact Joe Gerchak at CACL FCU, jgerchak@caclfcu.org.