Kevin T. Emerich

1982 - 2024

Retired U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kevin T. Emerich, 42, departed from this earthly plane for his final mission to heaven on Monday, April 22, 2024. Kevin fought a valiant 15-month battle with pancreatic cancer and passed peacefully in the comfort of his Tampa Bay area home with his wife, Katrina, and his dogs by his side - exactly as he wanted.

Kevin was born in Rochester, N.Y., March 17, 1982, and grew up in Bethlehem with his parents, Douglas and Sally, and his sister, Keri. He was a 2000 graduate of Liberty High School, Bethlehem, and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 2002. During his 20 years of military service, Kevin continued his education by earning a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science (2008) from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science degree in sports management (2010) from California University of Pennsylvania. During Kevin's military career as a network engineer, he served in various capacities here in the U.S., the Middle East and Asia; aboard the USNS Comfort hospital ship; and several additional classified locations throughout the world. Having a specialty for cyber transport systems, Kevin also worked at Security Hill on Lackland Air Force Base and for NSA Texas providing intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance. In his final years of service, Kevin served with the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) within the Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE) at MacDill AFB.

As a lover of nature and the great outdoors, Kevin was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed playing golf, shooting clays and being a member of an American Pistol Shooting team in South Central Texas. Kevin especially found happiness being in and amongst the water. Upon retiring from the military, he became a scuba diving instructor and spent countless hours exploring the cave systems of the Florida Aquifer. He adored spearfishing in the Gulf of Mexico, paddle boarding through the Florida mangroves, and leisure diving throughout the Florida and Caribbean coasts with his wife. The Gulf Coast of Florida was a very special place for Kevin. It was where he met Katrina and where, together, they would go on to build an amazing life and a beautiful home with their four dogs - Rexford, Kona-Belle, QQuix and his service dog, Isla. Kevin cherished the time spent with his loved ones, whether it be together watching his favorite football teams play (Fly Eagles Fly! and Go Bucs!), being a devoted participant in a weekly family NASCAR pool with his two brothers-in-law and father-in-law, or cooking up a storm in the kitchen preparing a new dish for family and friends to try. Kevin also had a keen ear for music and was an excellent bass player who often showcased his talents by playing at his church, Fellowship Church in Lithia, Fla.

Kevin was a larger-than-life character who always lived for the moment, never taking a single day for granted. He was also the most courageous warrior, fighting his cancer battle without ever showing any sign of surrender. Though his absence is felt profoundly by his loved ones, Kevin's spirit will continue to live on in colorful stories and favorite memories.

Kevin is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Katrina Trusa Emerich, Tampa, Fla.; daughter, Alanna Emerich, Sedgwick, Kan.; parents, Douglas and Sally Morse Emerich, Bethlehem; sister and husband, Keri Emerich and Tom Donchez, Bethlehem; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Michael Sr. and Patricia (Mike) Trusa, Nanticoke; brother-in-law and wife, Michael Jr. and Cecile Parages Trusa, Hatfield; sister-in-law and husband, Lauren Trusa and Richard Lester, Exton; niece, Maia Trusa; aunts, uncles and cousins; numerous friends from around the world, including his lifelong best friend, Josh Hannon, Bethlehem; and several members of the Armed Forces.

Kevin was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Rexford and Shirley Morse; paternal grandparents, Ruth and Herbert Hutchinson; and dearly beloved aunt, Lyn Emerich.

Family and friends are invited to gather for a celebration of life ceremony from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, in the Laros Room at the Bethlehem Area Public Library, 11 W. Church St., Bethlehem. Private inurnment with full military honors will be held Thursday, May 30, in Nisky Hill Cemetery, Bethlehem, for immediate family, close friends, and those who served with Kevin throughout his 20-year military career.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Kevin's name to Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Fla.; or to the family's personal GoFundMe account at https://gofund.me/089e4dea.