Gerald Karver

1923 - 2016

Gerald “Jerry” Karver passed away on Monday, August 1, 2016, at age 93, after a short stay at the Lehigh Valley Hospital. Jerry was born in Boyertown in 1923, and except for a six year period of time in the 1940’s when he attended Penn State and served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, lived all of his life in the borough. He is survived by his wife of nearly 69 years, Betty, and two children, Jeff husband of Cindy (Query) Rhoades, and Jana wife of Adolph Styer. He is also survived by four grandchildren, and one brother-in-law, Daniel Bause. He was predeceased by his three sisters Ethel Mercer, Phyllis Stauffer, and Betty Bause. During the 1940’s Jerry was one of the premier milers in the United States. As a high school student, he was a six time PIAA champion. Later at Penn State, he was a member of the first NCAA Championship team ever fielded by Penn State – the 1942 Cross Country team. After the War, he returned to Penn State. In 1947 he became only the second man ever to hold all of the major national mile titles in the same year when he won the IC4A, NCAA, and NAAU one mile championships. He narrowly missed earning a berth on the United States Olympic team in 1948 when he lost a photo finish for third place at the Olympic Trials. He is a member of the Pottstown and Berks County Sports Halls of Fame, and in 2014, he was voted into the Pennsylvania State Sports Hall of Fame. From the mid 1950’s until 1977 he was a part owner of Karver & Fry Toys & Gifts. He was a life-long member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. Since 1948 he was a member of the Boyertown Lions Club. In his later years he served as a fundraiser for the Boyertown Area Wellness Council in the successful effort to construct the all weather track and field facility at the Boyertown Area Senior High School. He was an active and enthusiastic supporter of the High School track teams. In a fitting end to his life’s passion, he collapsed while walking and exercising on the track at the High School last Friday. A funeral service will be held Friday August 5, 2016 at 11:00 AM at St. John’s Evangel Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown, PA 19512, with Rev. Carl Wenzel officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Boyertown. Visitation will be held Friday from 9:00-10:30 AM at the church. Catagnus Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Inc., 1020 E. Philadelphia Ave., Gilbertsville is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Jerry’s memory to the Wellness Council of Boyertown, P.O. Box 87, Boyertown, PA 19512; or to the Boyertown Lions Community Ambulance Association, 2 East Second St., Boyertown, PA 19512. View obituaries or send condolences at www.catagnusfuneralhomes.com