Katherine A. Vossburg Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Katherine A. Wagner Vossburg, 99, of Shippenville, passed away Tuesday, January 3, 2012, with her devoted grandson, Randy, by her side. Born October 5, 1912, on the family farm in Paint Township; she was the daughter of the late Amos and Mary L. Clark Wagner. She graduated from Welch’s Business College in Oil City. Katherine was married on February 16, 1934 to James Francis Vossburg Sr., who preceded her in death on August 23, 1999. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, as well as being a favorite aunt of many of her nieces and nephews. She always made each of her many visitors feel welcome at her farm. Katherine or otherwise known as, Granny, was strong as steel and fierce as a lioness when it came to protecting her own. For example, she taught others what family meant. In 1932, she went to work at Pennzoil in Oil City as secretary to the president. After two years, she moved home to the farm and got married and raised her family and half of the neighborhood kids as their Granny! To know her was to love her; she will be greatly missed by everyone. Mr. and Mrs. Vossburg lived on the Wagner Homestead Farm. Katherine was a pioneer of Manor. Her grandfather, J. Peter Wagner, was born in Germany and came to America with friends when he was 12 years old. He sailed from Amsterdam and landed in Baltimore in 1832. In 1844, he became a naturalized citizen at Clarion. He married Lydia Rupert Purcell and to that union were born ten children, Bill, Sam, Amos, John, Jeremiah, Prescilla, Lydia, Phoebe, Fannie, and Mary Ann. They lived in a log cabin in the orchard behind the present Vossburg house until the present one was built which is located on the Manor School Road. Granny belonged to the Manor United Methodist Church in Shippenville, where she took up the collection, played piano and was a good samaritan. Katherine was the last surviving member of her immediate family. She is survived by four grandsons, Randy Vossburg, Ed Vossburg, Richard Vossburg, and Bruce McClain, all of Shippenville; three great granddaughters, Heidi Vossburg, Amanda Vossburg, and Kendra McNaughton of Rimersburg; two very special niece and nephew, Ed Bouch and Nancy Reed of Shippenville; great grandson, Eddy Vossburg Jr. of Sligo; and a great nephew, Jason Reed and his companion, Christy Bertzer, of Shippenville. She was always with her dog, Molley, and they would go daily to the beloved apple orchard, where she kept the family heirloom apple trees bearing fruit. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, a brother, Lawrance Wagner, a sister, Lydia Bouch and her husband, Bruce; and two sons, Jim Vossburg Jr. and Jack McClain; and a grandson, Kevin McClain. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday, January 6, 2012, at the Manor United Methodist Church in Shippenville. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 6, 2012, at the Manor United Methodist Church in Shippenville with Rev. Kate Reitz, pastor of the Manor United Methodist Church, officiating. She will be laid to rest at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Shippenville in the plot next to her brother, Lawrance.

Katherine A. Vossburg

October 5, 1912 - January 3, 2012