Mrs. Fern A. Kerchner

Fern A. (Schlegel) Kerchner, 97, formerly of Kutztown, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 22, 2023 in Church of God Home, Carlisle. She was the widow of Lester L. Kerchner, who died October 2, 2012, and who she married June 3, 1944.

Born in 1925 in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County, PA. Fern was a daughter of the late Edmund and J. Susan (Herbein) Schlegel. She was employed as the Head Cook by the Kutztown Area School District for 12 years, retiring in 1989. Prior to that, Fern along with her late husband, Lester, were self-employed dairy farmers on the family farm in Albany Township, Berks County, PA. She was a member of Kutztown Grange for over 75 years. She was banquet coordinator for 20 of those years and always looked forward to working at the Kutztown Folk Festival every summer. Also, she was a long-time member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kutztown, PA.

Fern is survived by her son, Allen C., husband of Regina D. (Kistler) Kerchner, Mechanicsburg; daughter, Jane R. (Kerchner), wife of Steven M Darmofal, West Chester; six grandchildren, Philip Kerchner (Tina), Brock Kerchner (Kim), Karissa Murdock (Gary), Dana Ford (Jamison), Katarina Darmofal and Hannah Darmofal; six great-grandchildren, Gabriella and Faith Kerchner, Lilith and Finnley Murdock, and Hudson and Caden Ford. And, there are three step-great grandchildren and seven step-great great grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Marilyn (Schlegel) Gangaway, Hamburg; and many nieces and nephews and their families which she loved dearly.

Along with her husband and parents, Fern was predeceased by a son, Leroy L. Kerchner in 1965; daughter, Delores F. Kerchner in 1971; and siblings, Eva Treichler, Catherine Rabenold, Pearl Zimmerman, Marie Leslie, William Schlegel, George Schlegel, Carl Schlegel and Delmond Schlegel.

A funeral service to celebrate and honor Fern's life will be held on Friday, July 28, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. from St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 East Main Street, Kutztown, PA 19530 with The Reverends James W. Schlegel and Kim L. Kline Adamson co-officiating. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Kutztown. Relatives and friends are invited to a viewing on Friday morning, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. in the church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Fern's memory to St. John's Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 201 East Main Street, Kutztown, PA 19530.

Ludwick Funeral Homes and Cremation Care, Inc., Kutztown, PA is in charge of arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.Ludwickfh.com.