Obituary of Jere R. Schlemm

Jere R. Schlemm, 83, of East Petersburg, PA, passed away on Tuesday afternoon, August 16, 2016 at Bob Fryer & Family Inpatient Center at Hospice and Community Care in Mount Joy. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late Raymond A. and Mary E. Lehman Schlemm. He was the husband of Sandra L. Beam Schlemm for 56 years on June 25. Jere was a member of First Reformed Church UCC in Lancaster. Following his graduation from Manheim Township High School in 1951, he served his country during the Korean War as a U.S. Army corporal. Prior to retiring in 1989, he was employed for 34 years by the former Bell of Pennsylvania, now Verizon. He started his career as a pole digger and advanced through the company until he retired as an engineering manager. In the late 1970s, he and his family accepted a job assignment by American Bell International, subsidiary of Bell of PA, to work in Iran. Ten years later he accepted a similar assignment in Spain for a year. Jere was an active member of the Manheim Lodge No. 587, F&AM, where he was a Past Master. He was also a member of the Lancaster Lodge of Perfection where he was Thrice Potent Master and the Harrisburg Consistory. Jere enjoyed building and flying radio controlled airplanes and driving coach for Conestoga Tours in his retirement. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two children, Greg Schlemm of Lancaster and Tracy, wife of Rich Noland, of Bainbridge; two grandchildren, Erin Rightnour and Aidan Phillips; and three nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three siblings, Clayton LaMont Schlemm, Ethel "Sis" Murr, and James Schlemm. A memorial service will be held on Saturday morning, August 27, 2016 at 11:00 AM at First Reformed Church UCC, 40 East Orange Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 with Rev. Dana Schlegel officiating. Interment will follow in Conestoga Memorial Park, Lancaster. There will be no viewing. The family will receive guests at the church on Saturday morning from 9:30 AM until the time of the service. The family requests that flowers please be omitted. If desired, contributions may be made in his memory to the building fund of First Reformed Church or to Hospice and Community Care, 685 Good Drive, PO Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604. To express a condolence with the family or for additional information, visit www.spencefuneralservices.com.