George John Yaniger

George John Yaniger completed his journey on earth on August 6, 2014. “Coach” was best known for his passion for football, being a proud father and brother, and emphasizing the importance of family. Motivated and self-disciplined, he always said “There is no substitute for hard work”. The son of the late George R. Yaniger and Gertrude L. Gesting, he was raised in the 6th ward of Allentown and graduated from Allentown High School in 1959. George majored in Biology at Simpson College in Iowa where he was also nominated All American Defensive Back in 1963. That same year, he won the AAU Rocky Mountain Regional Golden Gloves Heavyweight Boxing title. In 1969, he received his Masters in Education Administration from Iowa State University. George earned his PA Secondary Principal’s Certificate from Lehigh University in 1984. His thirty five years of teaching experience included Dieruff, Slatington, North Allegheny, Wyoming Valley West and Reading high schools. He retired from Nazareth high school in 2001. Major accomplishments during George’s career included coaching under head coach Johnny Majors at the University of Pittsburgh, along with legendary NFL coaches Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt. During the 1973-1976 seasons, the Pittsburgh Panthers had three consecutive college bowl game appearances – the Fiesta Bowl, Sun Bowl and Sugar Bowl. In the 1976 season, the team was ranked #1 and won the National Championship title, led by Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett. George’s love for Allentown brought him back home to his roots, to coach in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas including Wyoming Valley West, Reading, Northampton, Shenandoah and Jim Thorpe high schools. He was especially proud to have coached and guided Mark Duda in high school, who later went on to play football at the University of Maryland and in the NFL for the St. Louis Cardinals. Survivors: wife Carol Micek, brother John, brother Christopher and wife Marilyn, son George M. and fiancée Shannon Beitler, daughter Mary and husband DJ, stepsons Mark and Robert Micek, grandchildren Sophia, Nicole, Ava, Jamie, Jack, Luke, Stevie and Megan. Also preceded in death by his brother Douglas. Services: A viewing will be held on Wednesday August 13 from 7-8:30PM and on Thursday August 14 from 9:45-10:30AM at Weber Funeral Home, 502 Ridge Ave. in Allentown to be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11Am at St John the Baptist Slovak Catholic church.