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Henry Aschenbrenner Obituary
Henry J. Aschenbrenner, 78, of Mech-anicsburg, passed away Friday,
Nov. 16, 2012, at the Hershey Medical Center.
Born June 16, 1934, in Reading, PA, he was the son of the late George and Gerardine (Ot-terbein) Aschenbrenner.
Henry retired from the PA Catholic Conference as the Director of Education and Deputy Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC). He was a graduate of Reading Central Catholic High School and St. Joseph University and continued his graduate studies at Boston College and Boston University.
Henry served in the U.S. Army and was a founding member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Mechanicsburg, where he served on the building committee and as an extra ordinary minister.
During his 28-year career at PCC, Aschenbrenner achieved numerous victories for Pennsylvania's nonpublic school students. He was instrumental in passing legislation that requires public school districts to provide bus transportation for students to their non-public schools; he led the effort to get state funding for secular textbooks, instructional materials and auxiliary services for nonpublic students; and his tireless advocacy for school vouchers paved the way for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.
He was also a driving force behind a statutory charter of freedom for Catholic schools from overly intrusive state regulation.
Aschenbrenner, a founding member of REACH (Road to Educational Achievement through Choice) received the organization's initial Founders' Award in January 2010.
Surviving is his wife
Marcella (Geerinck) Asch-enbrenner; five children: Laura (Brian) Sweeney, Karen, Steven, and Robert Aschenbrenner, all of Mechanicsburg, and Thomas (Dorothy) Aschenbrenner of Yardley, PA; two brothers: The Rev. George Asch-enbrenner S.J. of Wernersville, and Richard (Mary) Aschenbrenner of Sinking Spring; a sister, Katharine (James) Stachula of St. Charles, MO; seven grandchildren: Fiona and Noah Sweeney, Emily, Sara, Tommy, Allison and Lauren Aschenbrenner, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Henry was preceded in death by his brother Michael Aschenbrenner.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Mechanicsburg. Burial will take place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Viewing will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Malpezzi Funeral Home, Mechanicsburg.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Scholarship Fund at St. Joseph School, 420 East Simpson Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055, the Scholarship Fund at St. Ignatius of Antioch School, 999 Reading Ave., Yardley, PA 18940 or the MS Society of Central PA.
To sign the online guest book, please visit www.MalpezziFuneralHome.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Henry Aschenbrenner
Dan Albright
November 22, 2012
Rest in Peace "Hank"
Class of '63 - St. Pius X High School
Paul Dornisch
November 21, 2012
Thank you Henry for being the LEADER that you have been. A tireless worker for the children of SEAS and SJS. Your influence will long be remembered.
November 20, 2012
Mr. Aschenbrenner was my Math teacher at St. Pius High School in Pottstown. He was a wonderful and caring person and always treated everyone with respect. God rest his soul and bless his family.
Tina Furdyna
David Kirkpatrick
November 19, 2012
Henry was a friend and colleague for 40 years, especially in promoting school choice. There was no finer gentleman and, since he was planning to visit, this was a tremendous shock, one from which I will never completely recover. Peace my friend.
Kim Atticks
November 19, 2012
Karen,
Sorry for you loss. My prayer are with you
Dave Koehler
November 18, 2012
Dear Marcy and family,
Henry will always be remembered as a special friend in my life. We initially met and became partners in the prison ministry for 6 years. More recently, we maintained our personal friendship over breakfasts and visits with each other. Henry showed great resolve and determination in recent years managing physical challenges he was facing. Being with Henry always made me more appreciative of my own life. He will be sorely missed, but I trust we'll meet again.
George & Kathy Kinek
November 18, 2012
He was a devout man of God. A provider, protector, always friendly and genuinely interested in the well being of others. It was always a joy to talk to him. God rest his soul and bring him swiftly to paradise.
Joan Blewitt
November 18, 2012
Dear Tom and Dorothy and family,
Please accept my most sincere sympathies at the loss of your dad, Tom. He sounds like a wonderful man who led a full and rewarding life. He surely had an impact on many.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Elizabeth Hippenstiel
November 18, 2012
Dear Mrs. Aschenbrenner, Tom, Dorothy and family. I am so very sorry for your loss. He was a wonderful man who was always so kind to my sons and I! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Sincerely Elizabeth Hippenstiel
(Dorothy's Sister)
November 18, 2012
Marcy and family,
In the midst of your sorrow I hope you can find comfort in remembering that Henry was always a genuine man of God. I was blessed to have known and worked with him and to have him as a true friend.
Our prayers are with your family during this difficult time.
Fran, Sharon, Nicole and Christina Viglietta
Erla Stump
November 18, 2012
Hank has been a very special person for me with his friendship and help with our Computers. I greatly admired his great foritude during these difficult years. My caring sympathy to his family !
Carolyn Astfalk
November 17, 2012
Dear Marcy and family,
So sorry for your loss. Henry will always be the epitome of a Catholic gentleman to me. It was a pleasure and an honor to have known him and worked with him. Be assured of our prayers for him and for all of you.
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