Charles E> Wernert

Charles E. Wernert, 86, of Schuylkill Haven, passed away Wednesday, August 14th, at Pottsville Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, Pottsville.

Born in Pottsville on September 26, 1937, he was a son of the late Kline S. & Blanche N. (Faust) Wernert. For 29 years, he was the loving husband of Eleanor Kalbach Wernert.

Charles was a 1955 graduate of Lansford High School. He completed his undergraduate work at Lebanon Valley College, and graduate work at Temple & Lehigh Universities.

Charles devoted his life's work to the special education field, first working as a special education teacher, and later as a school physiologist. He undertook the roles of special education supervisor, director of special education mediation and retired as director of special education. He had worked for Tioga, Potter, Carbon, & Northampton County Schools, and retired from Schuylkill Intermediate Unit #29, Marlin, after many years of service. Charles hired countless staff members and had the innate ability to match staff to their best suited positions. He always encouraged staff to continue learning. The soul of Charles’ philosophy was “children comes first” and he was committed to the education and enrichment of the lives of exceptional children.

Charles served on the board for United Cerebral Palsy. He was the past president of PA Federation Council for Exceptional Children, PA Intermediate Unit Special Ed. Dir. Assoc., and Mid-Eastern Chapter Council for Exceptional Children. He also belonged to the American, PA, as well as Schuylkill County Assoc. of School Administrators, Phi Delta Kappa, PA Psychological Assoc., & Council of Admin. of Special Education.

Charles was a faithful member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Summer Hill, Auburn, where he served as a Eucharistic server. He had attended statewide conferences and was the church's representative for the Schuylkill County Council of Churches.

He sang in the Schuylkill County Community Chorus. He loved attending the Pottsville & Hazleton Concerts. Charles was a little league and soccer coach, and also served as a soccer referee. He was a ham radio operator; his handle was "SilverFox". For years, Charles attended many many Penn State football games. Charles was an avid hunter and also loved spending time at his home in the mountains, Grandview Cottage.

In addition to his wife, Charles is also survived by his daughter, Ashley Wernert, of East Point, Michigan; son, Charles E. "Chad" Wernert II, of Schuylkill County; grandchildren: Riley Wernert, Bane Karout, Nathan & Erica Onorofsky, Cole, Seth, Luke & Liam Young, and extend family including Tracy, wife of Lee Onorofsky, of Kempton; & Heather, wife of  Leo Young, of North Carolina.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held Thursday, Aug. 22nd at Ebling-Stabingas Funeral Home, Cressona, at 7:30 PM with Rev. Marie Meeks officiating. A visitation will be held from 6 PM until the time of service.

The family prefers remembrances in the form of contributions to  St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Summer Hill 1185 Summer Hill Road Auburn, PA 17922 or Special Olympics PA, 2158 Ave. C, Suite 201 Bethlehem PA 18017. Please add "Team Schuylkill" to the memo line of your check.