Karen L. Haas

Karen Lynn Lacy Haas, 73, of Kutztown, PA passed away, surrounded by family, on Sunday, October 18, 2026.

Born in Reading, Karen was the oldest of three daughters born to the late Donald N. and Lillian A. (Zillhardt) Lacy. She was a 1971 graduate of Muhlenberg High School and a 1975 graduate of Penn State University, where she received her bachelor's degree in family and consumer science. She later received a Master of Arts in Education from Gratz College, Philadelphia and wrote her thesis on bullying intervention.

It was while attending Penn State that Karen met her husband, Dean L. Haas, in a physical education bowling class at Berks Campus. Dean first asked Karen on a date where now stands a plaque commemorating the then-location of Penn State Berks Campus. They married on July 16, 1978. She remained a dedicated Penn State fan throughout her life, holding season football tickets for 40 years.

Karen was employed by The Reading School District for 30 years, working as a Family and Consumer Science teacher at Northeast Middle School until her retirement in 2010. Karen was a passionate and dedicated teacher in and outside of the classroom. Great with kids of all ages, she would serve as activity director and patient mentor to her children, their friends, nieces and nephews and students in her classroom. She is remembered among her students for the chocolate peanut butter eggs she would teach them to bake.

She was a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kutztown, where she was a former Sunday school teacher, and together with her husband Dean, leaders of an Explorers group.

She loved a day of shopping and going for lunch, a full travel itinerary with just enough time to squeeze it all in, being a tourist in her own backyard, swimming at the pool, nabbing a hard-to-get reservation at Disney World, finally finding the gravestone she had spent hours combing the cemetery for, planning activity-filled birthday parties for her daughters, going for pizza and the movies on a Friday night, strawberries and whip cream over a waffle - preferably at The Waffle Shop, and wet-bottom shoofly pie.

Karen was a talented travel planner, taking her family to all 50 states, and passionate about genealogy. Through researching her family's heritage, Karen connected her family to stories and people from generations ago, keeping people's memories and family stories alive. She traced numerous lines back to their first immigration to the United States in the 17 and 1800's. She deeply understood we are a nation of immigrants and made us proud of it.

Above all, Karen enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Known to them as "Nanny," she helped care for grandchildren Lilly and Calvin until they entered Kindergarten and beyond.

As Alzheimer's took away pieces of Karen, her husband Dean diligently stayed by her side as her caregiver. Through it all they showed each other the patience and understanding that could only exist in a deeply loving relationship. Thanks to his loving care, Karen remained quick to smile and laugh until the very end.

In addition to her husband Dean, Karen is survived by her two daughters, Heather L. (Haas), wife of Greg West, Macungie, PA, and Sarah S. (Haas), wife of Ben Osment, Apex, NC; four grandchildren, Lillian, Calvin, Olivia, and Rose; and two sisters, Lori A. Lacy, Reading, and Donna L. (Lacy), wife of John R. Goncus, Exeter Twp.

A funeral service to celebrate and honor Karen's life will be held on Friday October 23, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. in St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 East Main Street, Kutztown, PA. Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation prior to the service from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. in the church. Burial will be held privately in Fairview Cemetery, Kutztown.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in Karen's memory to either St. John's Lutheran Church, 201 E. Main St., Kutztown, PA 19530 or Berks History Center, 940 Centre Ave, Reading, PA 19601, https://berkshistory.org/library/donate.

Ludwick Funeral Homes and Cremation Care, Inc., Kutztown and Topton, PA, is in charge of arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shared by visiting Karen's obituary tribute page at www.Ludwickfh.com.