Richard K. "Rich" Bernecker, 73, of Allentown, died peacefully on Oct. 31, 2023 in Lehigh Valley Hospital. He was the loving husband of Gail D. (Malinowski) Bernecker.  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.  Rich was a former volunteer EMT of the Macungie Ambulance Corps and a volunteer firefighter for the Macungie Fire Dept. He was a wrestler at Emmaus High School, an avid swimmer, golfer, Dallas Cowboys and Penn State fan, and enjoyed fishing with his grandchildren.

Richard will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 54 years, Gail; sons, Mark W. Bernecker and wife Amy of Williamsburg, VA and Keith A. Bernecker of Allentown; grandchildren, Adam, Maci, and Cameron; brother, Wayne Bernecker and wife Shirley of Macungie; sister, Barbara Heinly of Smith Mountain Lake, VA. He was predeceased by a brother, Donald "Herk" Bernecker.

A celebration of life will be held on Sat., Nov. 11, 2023 at 2:00 PM in Schantz Funeral Home, P.C., 250 Main St., Emmaus, PA 18049.  Visitation 1:00 to 2:00 PM in the funeral home.  Interment will follow in Solomon's Union Cemetery, Macungie.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Richard's memory made to the funeral home for the benefit of an education fund for Cameron.