Mark Gregory Lerchen passed into God’s loving arms on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, due to heart failure and a short battle with ALS.

Mark was born on April 8, 1958, in Detroit, Michigan, to the late Janis Marlene (Shaak) Lerchen and Robert Francis Lerchen.

Mark was a 1976 graduate of Annville-Cleona High School. He coached numerous youth league teams, including six years of baseball and over 20 years of softball. He ran the girl’s biddy basketball league for 10+ years and helped with Rally Ball tennis. You could find him at any sport or activity that his kids participated in, and he often was a coach, helper, scorekeeper, or the proudest dad in the stands. Many weekends were spent traveling to away AAU basketball or travel softball tournaments. And in the evenings during the week, you could find him in the backyard or local softball field working with the girls on their skills for the next tournament.

Mark held various occupations throughout his life, but his favorite was his “old man job” of delivering pizza for Parma Pizza of Annville and Domino’s of Lebanon. He especially loved talking with his repeat customers and hearing the young children being excited that the “pizza man” was there.

In his spare time, he loved working in his yard and would receive numerous compliments on his beautiful work. Most recently, he also enjoyed going to antique stores with his wife so they could scour the stores for his obsession with blow molds. He loved to decorate the yard for the holidays, especially Halloween and Christmas, and took great delight when people would stop to look at his display. On Halloween, you could find him on his front porch, all decked out in costume to scare the kids (and a few adults) with his motion detector spider, but also to hand out the candy and enjoy the evening. Christmas would also include decorations not only on the outside of the house but also throughout the inside. For Christmas of 2023, he had 91 blow molds glowing outside and quite a few inside. His family is hoping to keep the beauty of the yard and his traditions alive for all his favorite holidays, but also know they have big shoes to fill.

The family would like to thank Hospice for all Seasons for their exceptional care, especially Joyce, Emily, Michele, Annette, Tammy, Taylor, Sam, and Michy. They would also like to thank his “special nurse,” Nora, and Jess of Adapt Health. They also feel very blessed by everyone who showed support to the family in the way of cards, thoughts, prayers, and personal gifts and dinners.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 32 years, Deb (Schrum) Lerchen; his daughters, Karla Lerchen, Chrisi, and her husband, Mitchell Shober, and Emma, and her husband, Grant Shives; his son, Travis Lerchen; his sister, Karen Lerchen; his aunt, Lorraine Koons; and his grandsons, Ayden and Gunnyr Lerchen. He also will be missed by his best friend, Daniel Wilt, and many other relatives and friends.

Mark was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Carolyn Mary Lerchen; his son, LeRoy Allen Lerchen; his maternal grandparents, LeRoy Allen and Mary (Barr) Shaak; and his paternal grandparents, George and Clara (Bales) Lerchen.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, from 2-4 p.m., and a memorial service will start at 4 p.m. Mark was not a “sharp dresser” but liked his sweats and t-shirts! He would have loved for everyone to attend in whatever comfortable clothing they would like to wear.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider a donation to a fund that has been set up in Mark’s name that will benefit Annville-Cleona youth who wish to participate in sports teams but might not be able to afford entry fees or equipment. It will be known as the Mark Lerchen FUNd, and donations can be made at https://marklerchenfund.betterworld.org/campaigns/youthleaguedonations.

Kreamer Funeral Home of Annville is handling the arrangements.