Richard K. “Rich” Bernecker, 73, of Allentown, died peacefully Oct. 31, 2023, in Lehigh Valley Hospital. He was the loving husband of Gail D. (Malinowski) Bernecker for 54 years. Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late Wayne Bernecker and Betty (Quinn) Bernecker Wilt.

He was a proud Teamster Union Local #12 member, working at Schaefer, Stroh’s and Pabst Brewing for 30 years. He served as the vice president and chief steward of the union. Later he worked in maintenance at East Penn School District, retiring in 2016.

He was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Church, Orefield.

He was a former volunteer EMT of the Macungie Ambulance Corps and a volunteer firefighter for the Macungie Fire Department.

He was a wrestler at Emmaus High School, an avid swimmer, golfer, Dallas Cowboys and Penn State fan and enjoyed fishing with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife; sons, Mark W. and his wife, Amy, of Williamsburg, Va., Keith A., of Allentown; grandchildren, Adam, Maci, Cameron; brother, Wayne and his wife, Shirley, of Macungie; sister, Barbara Heinly, of Smith Mountain Lake, Va. He was predeceased by a brother, Donald “Herk.”

Contributions may be made in his memory to the funeral home for the benefit of an education fund for Cameron.

A Celebration of Life will be held 2 p.m. Nov. 11 in the Schantz Funeral Home, P.C., 250 Main St., Emmaus. Visitation 1 to 2 p.m. in the funeral home.