Gerald E. Shank

After a long and faithful journey, Gerald (Jerry) Shank, 84, of Lititz quietly returned the gift of life to the creator who bestowed it in the first place. He died on July 29, 2026, due to pulmonary fibrosis.

Born in Marion, PA, Jerry was the son of the late Glenn H and Mae (Lehman) Shank. Jerry and his wife Ethel met at Lancaster Mennonite High School and were married on May 4, 1963. He graduated from Berea College, KY (1968) and was granted a master’s in social work from the University of Pittsburgh (1971).

Jerry worked for 25 years for Mennonite Central Committee including in Bolivia and Bangladesh as well as the Akron office. He also worked at Family Service where he directed the Employee Assistance Program.

Jerry enjoyed woodworking and was known for building unique teaboxes from exotic woods as gifts or donations. Jerry and Ethel biked over 100,000 miles mostly on their tandem, including in Europe and extensive road and trail rides in the US. Many of their friendships were built around group rides. When his lungs began to fail in his early 80s, he adjusted to activities he could do and many conversations with friends while maintaining a commitment to celebrate his blessings. He enjoyed nature’s beauty including a fertile garden, nurturing orchids and welcoming birds. He lived in curiosity, a commitment to problem solving, and a desire to understand those who thought and believed differently than him.

Jerry was generous with his time and money and volunteered regularly for Mennonite Disaster Service, Booksavers and Reuzit. He actively contributed in many ways as a member of Akron Mennonite Church for over 50 years. There he co-led a series of workshops helping people to prepare intentionally for their own end of life. He led an initiative to build affordable and elegant caskets and cremains boxes as a service to the church. He donated his body to science.

In addition to his loving wife Ethel, he is survived by his son Randy (Amela), daughter Marcela (Dale) and four grandchildren – Isak, Thalia, Lucia and Penelope. He is also survived by siblings Rachel (Glenn), Wayne (Miriam), Judy (Edwin), Glenda, and Carlton (Lisa). He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Janet (Eugene) and brother-in-law Jeryl.

He will be missed by family, Moravian Manor neighbors including woodshop buddies, multiple men’s breakfast groups, the “Big Chill” gang, and friends around the world. In lieu of flowers, Jerry might suggest that you help a neighbor fix a broken chair, share a fresh garden tomato, or show a bird’s nest to a child.

A celebration of life will take place at Akron Mennonite Church on Aug 15 at 11am.