Obituary for Rev. Leonard Eugene Shertzer Reverend Leonard Eugene Shertzer, 89, of York, Pennsylvania, passed peacefully at his residence on October 23, 2018. He was the husband of Evelyn A. (Sowers) McCarty Shertzer, his loving wife of 28 years.
Born May 1, 1929, in Hummelstown, PA, he was the son of the late Charles and Charlotte (Etzweiler) Shertzer. Leonard was a 1948 graduate of Swatara Township High School. He earned a B.A. from Elizabethtown College in 1953, a Master’s of Divinity from Gettysburg College in 1957, and a Master’s of Sacred Theology, also from Gettysburg College, in 1979.
He was ordained in 1961 and served the parish of First Lutheran Church in Portage, PA, from 1957 to 1961. Leonard was interested in urban ministry and completed a course of study in Chicago, IL. He was pastor at Augsburg Lutheran Church in Harrisburg’s inner city from 1961 to 1969, then became the pastor at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in the suburbs of Harrisburg from 1969 to 1979.
Until his retirement in 1995, he has served the parish at Union Evangelical Lutheran Church of York, where he has been awarded the honor of Pastor Emeritus. In his younger years, Len enjoyed handball, jogging, bicycling, “scootering” around to home visits, pecking away on his typewriter, substitute preaching on his weekends “off,” directing church theatre, caroling, planning vacations, and taking kids almost anywhere. He loved his family dearly and visited them wherever they lived, from the East Coast to the Cascades and Southeast Alaska.
He shared his best every Sunday morning, delivering sermons that reminded us of life’s greatest joys and utmost trials, and left parishioners both laughing and crying. Always welcoming, he greeted each person openly, and graciously thanked all who visited him. Because he lived well, and fully, he never missed a chance to “get up and go”.
He planned and cherished his family trips every summer. He and Evie enjoyed traveling, touring approximately fifty foreign countries as well as all fifty United States. In his retirement, they enjoyed camping and RVing with friends in Florida.
He was a member of the East York Optimist Club and Retired Pastors and Spouses. At the end of the day, he loved nothing more than to sit in his lounge chair, read the paper, smoke his cigar, and “rest his eyes”. He was happy and optimistic through even his last day, and scoffed at knowing the Lord might take him soon.
In addition to his wife, Evie, Len is survived by a sister, Hazel Kurz, and her husband, W. Robert; two daughters, Denise Williamson and Diane Vestal; and a son, David Shertzer. His grandchildren include Rhiannon and Justin Williamson, Jasmine and Jordan Fabie, Olivia Vestal, and Autumn Farrell, with his two great-grandchildren, Cavan and Callen. He is also survived by stepdaughters, Debra Sallade and husband, Chris, Barbara Oyler and husband, Paul, and Susan Hunter and husband, Christian, with step-grandchildren, Ben Sallade, Jessica and Lauryn Oyler, and Hailey Hunter, respectively.
Aside from his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Joyce Bale. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 18, 2018 at Union Evangelical Lutheran Church, 408 W. Market St., York, PA 17401 with the Rev. Joel S.B. Folkemer and the Rev.
Judith McKee, officiating. The family will receive friends and guests at the Fellowship Hall of the church following the service. A private family graveside service will be held at an earlier date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Scholarship Fund, c/o Union Evangelical Lutheran Church, 408 W. Market St., York, PA 17401. Arrangements by the Etzweiler Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, 1111 E. Market St. York, PA 17403. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Rev.
Leonard Eugene Shertzer please visit our Sympathy Store. Upcoming Events Memorial Service NOV 18. 1:00 PM Union Evangelical Lutheran Church York, PA, US, 17401 408 west market street Order Flowers for the Memorial Service Guaranteed delivery before Leonard’s Memorial Service begins.
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