William Kase

Deacon William R. Kase, 87, passed away in Reading Hospital on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
Born and raised in Reading, PA, he was the son of Raymond A. and Catherine (Holahan) Kase, and is predeceased by his siblings Raymond, Sister Josephine Kase IHM, James, Kathleen (Kase) Kuczala, and Elizabeth (Kase) Lineaweaver.
A 1955 graduate of Monsignor Bornemann Central Catholic High School (later known as Reading Central Catholic), Bill attended King's College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. He served in the United States Army as a Psychological Testing Specialist from 1960 until 1962, when he began his career as a Social Studies teacher at his alma mater, Central Catholic. He continued his military service in the Army Reserves until 1966. In 1964, Bill became one of the original faculty members of the newly dedicated Holy Name High School. During the course of his 38 year tenure at Holy Name, he served as a teacher, football and track coach, Athletic Director, vice principal and, in 1971, after receiving his Master's Degree in Education Administration from Lehigh University, was appointed as the first lay principal of a Catholic high school in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Bill was ordained as a Permanent Deacon in the Roman Catholic Church in October of 1982, assigned to Holy Name and Sacred Heart Church in West Reading, PA. Bill served as both a spiritual and administrative leader until his retirement from Holy Name in 2002, dedicating himself to serving the Sacred Heart Community as its deacon for years to follow. In 2003, Bill was named as the president of the Allentown Diocese Board of Education, a position that he held until 2010.
A multi-sport varsity letter recipient in high school, Bill continued his passion for sports as a PIAA Football Official for 22 years. He also assisted the Holy Name football coaching staff by filming games, and could be found operating the game clock and scoreboard at various sporting events throughout the year, most notably basketball. Bill received recognition for his contributions to the Holy Name athletic department in 2004 when he was inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame.
In his private life, Bill enjoyed taking family trips to Ocean City, NJ and Rehoboth Beach, DE, and touring Europe with his wife of 60 years, Mary Ann (Orlando) Kase. He was a die-hard fan of the Miami Dolphins, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, and could be found sporting the colors of his favorite team in front of the television on the weekends. In the off-season, Bill would bury himself in the works of Tom Clancy, John Grisham, or Scott Turow.
In addition to his wife, Mary Ann, Bill is survived by his three children, Kathleen (Kase) McConnell, wife of Keith McConnell, William E. Kase, husband of Jessica (Shaaber) Kase, and Michael J. Erazo-Kase, husband of Silvia Erazo-Kase; and his five grandchildren, William S., Adam M., Andrew J. McConnell, Marcelo Erazo-Kase, and Ryan N. Kase.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart RCC, with interment at Gethsemane Cemetery to follow. A viewing will be held Wednesday, October 9, 2024 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc. West Reading. A second viewing will be held Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Kuhn Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bill's memory may be made to Sacred Heart Parish, P.O. Box 6217, Reading, PA 19610 or Berks Catholic High School, 955 East Wyomissing Blvd., Reading, PA 19611.
Condolences may be expressed at kuhnfuneralhomes.com.