Kulpmont - Gerald (Jerry) Wascavage, 83, 107 Poplar Drive, Shady Acres, Kulpmont, died April 16, 2024, at Geisinger Medical Center. He was the son of the late Mame (Timm) and A. Edward (Edel) Wascavage, of Kulpmont. Gerald was born on May 30, 1940, whereupon a parade was held each year on his birthday in Kulpmont and Knoebel's Grove opened for the summer, or so he was told.

He attended St. Casimir's Parochial School and was a 1958 Academic Degree graduate of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial High School in Kulpmont. He was a 1963 graduate of Penn State University where he majored in Microbiology. On June 26, 1965, he married Alice "Bonnie" Higgins of Mt. Carmel in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, a marriage that would last 58 years. At one time he served his parish of Holy Angels in Kulpmont, as a Webelo Scout Leader, President of the Basketball Association, and as a lector.

After graduating from Penn State, he was employed by Geisinger Medical Center, where he sought certification in Medical Microbiology, graduating in 1964, whereupon he became certified as a Medical Microbiologist by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. Moving on from Geisinger, he accepted a position with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Sunbury Office, and later on to the Pottsville District Office of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, where he was involved with the regulation of the coal and non-coal mining industry as a supervisor of the permitting section, a position from which he retired in 2001.

Upon retiring he pursued many activities. He loved taking his dog, Lucky, a registered Shelty Therapy Dog, to local nursing homes, the Kulpmont Senior Center, and Kulpmont Geisinger Life. He was also a volunteer with the Kulpmont Cruise Association through his love of nice, older cars and trucks. He loved photography and at one time was a freelance photographer for the Kulpmont Little League Football, cheerleading, baseball, and basketball teams. Jerry was also the photographer for many of the Mt. Carmel Alice Higgins Dance Reviews, Ailce Higgins being his mother-in-law. He loved taking photos of his friends, and others, and gifting them with their photographs. He had several pictures of friends published in major motorcycle magazines. Jerry and his wife, Bonnie, loved motorcycling and together attended many motorcycle events at Sturgis, SD, Laconia, NH, Myrtle Beach, SC, Lake George, NY, as well as local touring. Jerry also loved boating on Pennsylvania rivers, lakes, and the St. Lawrence River, in Canada. But most of all he loved his wife, Bonnie, his six children, his dog, KC, an American Shepherd, and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Bonnie; children, Dr. Brian and his wife, Sarah of Auburn, MA, Michaelyn Reichwein of Kulpmont, Krisa Hubler of West Cameron, Kevin of Kulpmont, and Alison and Brett Veach of Lee's Summit, MO; grandchildren, Zachary and Nicholas Wascavage, Gerard Reichwein, Jack and Lilly Hubler, Ella, Wylan and Elijah Veach; great-granddaughter, Arizona Reichwein; brother, Jack, and his wife, Cynthia of Shady Acres; a sister, Marie Nolan of Reading; an aunt, Angie Timm of Kulpmont; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a stillborn daughter, Judy; an older brother, Edward (Zizzy); grandparents, Stanley and Victoria Timm and Stanley and Michaelan Wascavage; a brother-in-law, Patrick Nolan; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jack and Alice Higgins; and Shelties, Lucky and Mattie.

Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 11 a.m. with Father Andrew Stahmer officiating in the Church of the Holy Angels, 855 Scott St., Kulpmont, PA. Burial will follow in St. Casimir's Cemetery, Marion Heights, PA. Viewing will be held Saturday morning from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass in the Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Church of the Holy Angels, 855 Scott St., Kulpmont, PA 17834.