Kenneth R. Lerch

Kenneth R. Lerch, Sr., 81, of Reading, passed away October 27, 2013 in the Mifflin Center.

He was the husband of Linda J. (Wise) Lerch, whom he married almost 36 years ago on December 7, 1977.

Born April 24, 1932 in Reading, he was a son of the late Samuel D., Sr. and Mamie V. (Fink) Lerch.

Kenneth was a 1950 graduate of Reading High School and a 1954 graduate of Kutztown State Teaching College.

He worked for the Schuylkill Valley School District from 1954 to 1991, teaching English, History, and Driver Education. In 1960 he served as Student Council Advisor and was the Chairman of the Social Studies Department. From 1971 to 1991 he proudly served as the Athletic Director. After his retirement from the school district in 1991 he worked as a courier for ASAP Courier Corp., Wyomissing, until August of this year.

Ken was the President of the Berks County High School Athletic Association in 1976. He also the Director for the District III P.I.A.A. Sectional Wrestling Tournament, District III Regional Wrestling Tournament, and District III P.I.A.A. Wrestling Program. He was inducted in the P.I.A.A. District III Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1995, the Berks County Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1994 and in 2013 was the inaugural inductee for the Schuylkill Valley Hall of Fame. He was also the Chairman of the Schuylkill Valley School Lights project and was involved with Panthers-on-Parade and produced and co-directed Oklahoma!, the first Broadway musical at Schuylkill Valley High School in 1996.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Kenneth R. Lerch, Jr., Reading; his step-daughters that he loved as his own: Laurie J., wife of Jeffrey Sauder, Denver, and Betsy L., wife of Jim Eichelberger, Mechanicsburg and his grandson, the joy of his Pop-Pop's life, Nathan J. Sauder, Denver. Also surviving are his brother, Ralph Lerch, Reading, and his sister-in-law, Patricia Lerch, Reading. Three nieces: Kandis L., wife of William Moser, Sinking Spring; Karen, wife of Jim Raszkiewicz, Reading; Kathleen, wife of Tom Horton, VA; as well as many great nieces and a great-great niece and nephew also survive him.

Ken was predeceased by his brother, Samuel D. Lerch, Jr.

Services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. in Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 Penn Ave., West Reading, with Pastor Dennis Trout officiating. A visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be private in Grand View Memorial Park, Annville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Schuylkill Valley H.S. Athletics c/o Schuylkill Valley H.S. Athletic Department, Attn: Kenneth Lerch Memorial Fund, 929 Lakeshore Dr., Leesport, PA 19533. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.