The Rev. H. Gene Reichel, 84, of Lower Macungie Township, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 3, 2022, after a brief illness. He was the husband of Patricia R. (Riehl) Reichel. They celebrated their 59 ^th wedding anniversary on August 16.

Born in Shawano, Wisconsin, he was the son of the late Harold and Henrietta G. (Koeller) Reichel.

A 1958 graduate of Concordia High School and Jr. College in Milwaukee, he received a BA from Concordia Sr. College, Ft. Wayne, Indiana and earned an M. Div. from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri in 1964.

After serving his vicarage at Trinity Lutheran Church, Freistatt, MO, Pastor Reichel received his first call to serve St. John Lutheran Church, Aliceville, KS and Trinity Lutheran Church, Burlington, KS. He later served as pastor of Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Crestview, FL and First Lutheran Church, Florala, AL, was Founding Pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Tunkhannock, PA, served Faith Lutheran Church, Elma, NY, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, York, PA, and finally St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Columbia, PA until his retirement in 2003.

Pastor Reichel was active on the LCMS Eastern District Evangelism Committee and served as its Circuit Counselor; was Gulf States LWML District Counselor and 1973 LWML Convention Counselor in Mobile, AL.

Also involved in community affairs, he was Coffey County Hospital Chaplain in Burlington, KS, as well as Board Member and President, Tunkhannock Area School Board Member and President, member of Tunkhannock Rotary Club and Tunkhannock Area Clergy Fellowship.

A devoted husband, father and grandfather, Gene loved family camping trips and eating pie with his family. He was an avid Green Bay Packers fan, gardener and clock collector. He maintained a deep love for Wisconsin winters and the Wolf River. Gene also loved cars, especially VW Bugs.

Surviving with his wife, Patricia, are four daughters, Jeannie (Mark) Haras of Erie, PA, Julie (John) Hertz of Magnolia, NJ, Michelle (Jim) Graybill of Macungie, PA and Mary Jo (Buck) Haney of Suffolk, VA; 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a sister, Judy Reichel.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 9, in Concordia Lutheran Church, 2623 Brookside Road, Macungie, PA 18062, followed by interment in Western Salisbury Cemetery, Allentown. Family and friends are invited to call from 10:00 – 10:55 a.m. Friday in the church. The service will be live-streamed under "Concordia – Macungie" on YouTube.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Pastor Reichel's name may be sent to Concordia Lutheran Church, Macungie or Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2121 Roosevelt Avenue, York, PA 17408.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Pearson Funeral Home, Bethlehem. www.pearsonfh.com