Kevin James Elphick

"It's All Part of Growing Up And You're Growing Up Until the Day You Die" -Kevin James Elphick, December 27th, 1950 – August 13th, 2025 Kevin James Elphick passed away peacefully at dusk on Wednesday August 13th 2025 in the care of Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, in Allentown, after a years-long fight against a series of health concerns. His beloved wife, Susan, and the twenty-three souls they helped guide through this world, were beside him, comforting and thanking him as his own soul prepared to move on to the next one. Until the time of his passing, Kevin lived with Susan in the house they built, in 1978, on Chestnut Lane in New Berlinville. An hour after he took his final breath, Susan, his six children*, seventeen grandchildren** and the five sons- and daughters-in-law*** he loved as his own, gathered there for a joyful, if raucous, celebration of his life. Born in Weehawken, New Jersey on December 27th, 1950, Kevin was the fourth of ten children**** born to T. Spencer ("Spence") Elphick and Margaret Elphick. Encouraged by his father (who, during the worst days of the Great Depression, was forced to leave school to help support his mother and siblings) to get a good paying job by pursuing a quality education, Kevin finished high school and put himself through four years of study at Newark's New Jersey Institute of Technology. After graduating in 1972, he married Susan, began his career at Art Metal in Newark and started a family. In 1985, after several years working as a plant engineer for Diamond Glass in Royersford, a management shakeup led to Kevin's decision to go into business for himself, rather than relocate the family to Tennessee. He established KJE Associates Inc. from a small room for rent in the back of Fritchie's Barbershop in Bally. After a period of trial and error, he found a niche for his fledgling company designing and manufacturing conveyor systems for customers in an array of industries. It did not take long for the enterprise to grow to include a fabrication shop, a sprawling warehouse and suite of offices. Large material handling automation projects were staged there and deployed throughout the U.S. and abroad. Kevin's successes in business supported Susan and their ever-growing family for 16 years before circumstances led him to chase new opportunities. He remained a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers. In his later years, he served as an expert witness in numerous lawsuits involving accidents in manufacturing facilities like those KJE Associates had serviced. His earnings from these projects contributed in large part to his and Susan's ability to retire comfortably. A devout Catholic, loving father and doting husband, Kevin enjoyed woodworking, cooking, and mentoring career minded young people as a volunteer for the Allentown-based Lehigh Valley Professionals networking group. He was a lifelong fan of The Temptations, The Four Tops, James Brown and other recording artists from the 1960's "Motown" era of American popular music. In recent years, Susan enjoyed streaming episodes of "Heartland," a popular Netflix drama series with him (over red wine and Jameson, naturally) on their date nights. Kevin, more of an "Ice Road Truckers" kind of guy, would have loved spending this time with his wife even if they just sat there watching paint dry. 18 seasons of a TV show about Canadian horse ranchers didn't hold a candle to the epic five-decade adventure they were blessed to share. Kevin was, above all else, a devoted family man, applying the problem-solving abilities required by his profession to the everyday dilemmas that come with being a parent. Tough but fair, generous to a fault, as a father he could be counted on for guidance, moral support, a joke or a kind word at any moment of any given day. He was immensely proud of his children's self-reliance and fierce loyalty. He was known for having a mischievous streak and was generally well liked in the local community. He remained inquisitive and eager to learn until the very end of his life. His funeral mass will be held Tuesday, August 19th at Saint Columbkill Roman Catholic Church (200 Indian Spring Rd, Boyertown, PA 19512), his and Susan's home parish for the past 47 years. The date is also the couple's 53rd wedding anniversary, reminding the family of his faith in the idea that "there are no such things as coincidences" at times such as this. Sure, the date was the best one available for a variety of reasons, but Susan and the kids can't help but see it as a sign from the old man, wherever his spirit is now, that the event should be more of a party and not so much a day of sorrow. The first part of the word "funeral" is "fun," after all. This, too, may or may not be a coincidence. Visitation will be from 9 – 11 AM, with mass beginning at 11:00AM. Burial will follow at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Douglassville and a luncheon in the church reception hall to follow. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, Susan and the family ask that donations be made in Kevin's name to Mary's Shelter in Reading (https://www.marysshelter.org/monetarydonations). ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Kevin, Mike, Dave, Chris, Lisa & Sarah **Caitlin (25), Michael (22), Madison (17), Ava (16), Ella (16), Rowan (15), Avery (13), Jake (12), Cecily (12), Cael (11), Olive (10), Kirkland (9), Henry (7), Sullivan (6), James (5), Xavier (4) & Scarlet (1) ***Jen, Lindsay, Lynne, Dustin & Rob ****Tom, Grace (deceased), Dennis, Terrence (deceased), Joe, Timmy, (deceased), Peggy, Eileen & Maureen