Obituary of Donald Eugene Bischoff

Donald Eugene Bischoff, age 79 of Greensburg, PA, formerly of Mt. Pleasant, died unexpectedly Monday (2/15/16) in Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA. Mr. Bischoff was born November 19, 1936 in Mount Pleasant, PA, the son of the late Eugene and Charlotte Barclay Bischoff. He was a member of Saint Mark's Lutheran Church of New Stanton, and a former member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Mount Pleasant, where he served on Council for several years, and also as a Sunday School Superintendent. Don also sang in the church choir for 50 years. He graduated from the former Ramsay High School in 1954, and then attended Thiel College for Journalism, receiving his degree in 1958. Don began his teaching career at the former Scottdale High School, and then taught Secondary English and Journalism for the Mount Pleasant Area School District until his retirement in 1993. A sports enthusiast, Don became a sports announcer for WLSW (FM104), broadcasting high school football and basketball games for 30 years. For 21 of those years, he was known as "The Voice of the Vikings". Highlights of his broadcasting career included 4 WPIAL Championship games from Three Rivers Stadium, and a State Basketball Championship game from the Hershey Arena. He was also a Sports Writer for the Mount Pleasant Journal, penning his column, "View from the Pressbox" for 14 years. Don was a former member of the Mount Pleasant Rotary Club, serving as President in 1996 and also a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a long time member of the Mount Pleasant Church Dartball League, where he served 2 terms as President. He participated in the Hempfield Service Program for 8 years, volunteering as a Teachers Aid for Kindergarten at the Stanwood Elementary School. Don was enjoying his retirement. He loved golfing and traveling, escaping on several cruises, but he especially enjoyed the time spent with his family. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather, and a friend to many. Don was a Gentleman who always had a smile for everyone. His kind and gentle ways and his infectious laughter will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Don is survived by his loving family: his wife of 55 years, Joyce Barner Bischoff, his children, Luanne Kerrigan and her husband Michael of Severna Park, MD, and Linda Polakovsky and her husband Edward of Harrison City, PA, and by his beloved grandchildren, the Pride and Joy of his life, Joseph and Jacob Kerrigan, and Adam and Emily Polakovsky. Family and friends will be received Thursday from 2 until 8 PM at the Galone-Caruso Funeral Home, 204 Eagle Street, Mount Pleasant. Additional viewing will be held Friday from 9:30 to 10:30AM in the funeral home. Funeral Services for Don will follow at 11:00 AM in the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church,822 West Main Street, Mount Pleasant, with the Rev. Karen C. Thompson, and the Rev. Anne Woodman-Howe co- officiating. Interment will be in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials may be made to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 822 W. Main St., Mt. Pleasant, PA 15666 or Saint Mark's Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 236, New Stanton, PA 15672 in Memory of Donald E. Bischoff. To offer an online condolence, please visit our web site at: www.galone-carusofuneralhome.com