Alan D. Rothacker, 65

December 17, 2019

Alan D. Rothacker of Lititz was welcomed into the hands of the Lord on December 17, 2019, after years of chronic illness. He was born in Pottsville, PA on July 9, 1954, and his early life was spent in Minersville. After a short time in Glen Burnie, MD he graduated from Rice Avenue Union High School in Girard, PA. He was a proud Gunnery Sergeant in the United States Marines and much of his life was shaped by the Corps.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald W. Rothacker, Sr. and Laura B. (Mervine) Rothacker.

He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Kate T. (Matejov) Rothacker; daughters Amanda Krause (Nate), Palatine, IL, and Lisa Rothacker, Hurricane, WV; sons Jesse (Kim), Manheim and Andrew (Marie), Lititz; brothers Dr. Gerald Jr. (Carla), Lititz, and Ken (Gail), Cary IL. He adored his four grandchildren, Kenny, Viola, Paloma and Rafael.

While serving in Okinawa in 1976, he developed severe asthma and was evacuated to the Philadelphia Naval Hospital where on recovery he proudly took part in the Bicentennial celebrations of the USA. He was next transferred to the El Toro Air Wing in southern California where he enjoyed keeping Marine jets flying. When continuing complications of asthma forced him to retire from the Marines, he used his machine skills in industry developing prototypes for high-resolution aeronautical reconnaissance photography and then miniaturization of invasive medical monitoring devices. He and Kate were some of the first members of Pastor Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church.

The family moved to Lititz in 1995. Al was a trombone player who enjoyed the music and the camaraderie of the Moonlighters Big Band and the Lititz Community Band. He had a deep faith and trust in Jesus Christ. He was active giving and getting care from his church community at Washington Avenue Bible Church in Ephrata.

Al was the most caring of individuals, and during his many contacts with the medical community in Lancaster, it was not uncommon that he would ask his doctors how they were doing and forget to present all his own medical issues. He knew and cared about all the staff at every level in all the businesses he frequented. The family is especially thankful for the care of Dr. Jonathan Sneller and his staff and most recently the compassionate care at the Lebanon VA Hospital.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, December 21 at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA with visitation from 2-4 and service at 4 P.M. Interment will be at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery at the convenience of the family. In Lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Al’s memory to Music for Everyone (musicforeveryone.org) or SWAN, Scaling Walls a Note at a Time (SWAN4kids.org).