Gerald K. Rinehart, Sr.

Gerald K. Rinehart, Sr. “beloved husband, father, and grandfather”

COUDERSPORT, Pa.---Gerald K. “Jerry” Rinehart, Sr., 89, of Coudersport, formerly of Boyertown, passed away in his home on Monday, June 14, 2021, after a long illness.
Born on Wednesday, August 26, 1931, in South Coventry Township, he was a son of Leslie W. Sr. and Alice A. (Weidenmoyer) Rinehart. On June 21, 1952 in Pottstown, he married Mary E. Feight, who survives.
Gerald attended Pottstown High School. He was a US Army veteran having served during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954, attaining the rank of Corporal. A truck mechanic for all of his life, Jerry was last employed as a diesel truck mechanic for Ryder Trucking. He was also the owner of Jerry’s Archery Shop in Pottstown, and a founding member of Stowe Archers. He was an avid outdoors-man, hunter and archery enthusiast. He began coming to Potter County for hunting when he was 14 and eventually built a hunting cabin on Bailey Run Road, where he enjoyed many weekends prior to his retirement.
Jerry was a past member of the First Baptist Church in Pottstown. Early in his retirement years, Jerry drove school bus for the OJ Roberts School District and particularly enjoying taking the girls softball and track teams to their games, especially when they played Boyertown teams. After raising their family in the Boyertown area, Jerry and Mary sold their home and spent many years traveling and living full time in their RV before relocating to Gods Country, Potter County. Both Jerry and his wife, Mary, received the Volunteer National Park Service Stewardship Achievement Award for their volunteer services at the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. In addition, they both also received the Presidents Call to Volunteer Service Award for their work as campground hosts at the Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida. He became an expert woodworker in his retirement, creating numerous decorative bowls, napkin holders and clocks which he gave to family and friends.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 68 years...Jerry and Mary would have celebrated their 69th anniversary next week on June 21. Also surviving are four children, Claire D. (Jere) Engelman of Mechanicsburg, Gerald K. (Mary Huertas) Rinehart, Jr. of Shickshinny, Keith A. (Debbie) Rinehart of Escondido, California, and Faye A. “Tiny” (Neil) Colgan of Bechtelsville; 14 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Agnes Hospodar of Spring City; a brother, Frank “Butch” (Barbara) Miller of Lake Placid, FL; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Jerry was predeceased by a son, Robert R. Rinehart; a grandson, Robert P. “Paulie” Rinehart; two brothers, Leslie Rinehart Jr, Clay Rinehart Sr; and two sisters, Kathryn Cutler, and Evelyn Davidheiser,.
In keeping with Jerry’s wishes, there will be no public visitation or funeral services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jerry’s name may be made to Stowe Archers, 1132 Grosstown Road, Stowe, PA 19464.
Jerry entrusted his care and cremation arrangements to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.

To express condolences or share a fond memory of Jerry, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home Facebook page.