Obituaries

Brandon M. Lehr, 22

Brandon M. Lehr, 22, of Landisville, died unexpectedly January 9, 2011 in State College.  Born in Lancaster, Brandon was the son of Michael R. and Sheila H. (Hatke) Lehr of Landisville.

A senior at Penn State University, Brandon was majoring in Civil Engineering, with plans to become a construction project manager upon graduation.

He was a member of Hempfield United Methodist Church.

Brandon was a 2007 graduate of Hempfield High School, where he played lacrosse and was a member of the swim team.  He was a member of the Hempfield Stingray Swim Team for 11 years, and then coached the team for 3 years.  Brandon especially enjoyed coaching the younger children.

While at Penn State, Brandon was a swim coach for the Nittany Lions Swim Club and also played club water polo.  He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity.  Brandon was very involved with THON at Penn State, fundraising for charities.  He and his dance partner reached their goal this year to be entered to participate in the THON Dance.

Brandon was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan, loved being around water, cooking, woodworking, and traveling, with memorable trips to Europe, South America, and the Caribbean.

In addition to his parents, Brandon is survived by his brothers, Spencer R. Lehr and Connor E. Lehr of Landisville, maternal grandparents, Bernard C. and June C. Hatke, of Fort Wayne, IN, paternal grandparents, Nancy E. Lehr, of Harrisburg, and Ray S. and Carol Lehr, of Holden Beach, NC, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at Hempfield United Methodist Church, 3050 Marietta Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603 Friday, January 14, 2011 at 6 PM with Rev. Dr. Keith O. Braucher officiating.  Friends may visit with the family at the church from 3 until 6 PM.  Interment will be private and held at the convenience of the family.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Brandon Lehr Memorial Fund, to assist the Hempfield Stingray swim team, and mailed to Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543.  To send an online condolence, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory Inc. 717-560-5100

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We are so sorry to hear about Brandon. Our prayers are with you and all your family. He will be missed.
Al, Diane, Kyle, and Kevin Ramer

Dear Michael & Sheila and Spencer & Connor,

We are all at a loss as to what to say or do… Brandon was a wonderful guy, my son Greg became friends with him and couldn’t say enough about how fair, how nice, how much fun he had with Brandon.  For heavens sakes I’ve changed his diapers.  You are a wonderful family and it just saddens me to see you lose your son.  It is just unbelievable.  Please know that we are all here for you… whatever we can do to help you just call.  My love, my sons love, the communities love is reaching to the heavens for you. 

Our prayers and love,
Sharron Herr & Tom & Andy & Greg

Mike and Sheila,

I am so sorry for your loss, and I’m sorry we have to reconnect through such a tragedy. Though I didn’t know Brandon, the many notes of remembrance speak to a remarkable young man, not unlike my roommate in college. God’s peace to you both. 

Frank DeSantis

Dear Ray, Carol & family,
We are so VERY  sorry for your loss.
Our hearts go out to you, for this tragic, unexpected loss of your beloved.
Sending you light & love,
Tily & Arnie Oxman

To the Lehr Family,

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of you for this tragic loss of Brandon. It is apparent from the outpouring of love and condolences that he touched a great many lives.

May the peace of the Lord be with you. We are sorry for your loss.

Carey and Melodye (Clements) Peters

Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Lou,Mary Lou and Ryan DiFelice

Our prayers are with Brandon’s parents and extended family.  We send our love to Ray and Carol Lehr and want them to know our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time. 

Dolly and Lewis Mitchell, Holden Beach, NC

My family recently got to know Brandon as he was a friend of our daughter, Krista Chomiak, at PSU. At a tailgate gathering, we hit it off right away. His charisma, sense of humor and friendliness was infectious. We joked about football (Dallas vs. Giants) and how to correctly pronounce ‘Lancaster’.

More recently, we were fortunate enough to have Brandon as a houseguest in our NY home while he and his friends spent the weekend ‘canning’ for Thon.  He was the polite and gracious young man my daughter spoke about. He even was their ‘designated driver’ so they could enjoy their weekend together worry-free.

My wife and I are terribly sad, but we will always have the memories we shared for those few short months. God Bless his soul and his family and friends.

We send you our thoughts and prayers. Brandon’s smile and gentle demeanor will be missed in our neighborhood and his light will be greatly missed in the world.
The Pontz family.

Dear Mike, Sheila, Spencer, and Connor,

We were both shocked and are very sorry to hear about Brandon’s passing. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. If there is ever anything you need, we are only a phone call and a short drive away.

Our Sincerest Condolences,
Marcie & Adam

God Bless You All, Our Thoughts and Prayers are with You,
Luthers Girls, Barb, Marcia and Janice

Do not stand at my grave and forever weep.
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and forever cry.
I am not there. I did not die.

The most recent memory I have of Brandon is when he drove us to the restaurant as a surprise for your birthday, Sheila. It was like a 45 minute drive so we had plenty of time to talk to Brandon and catch up with what was going on in his life at the time.  I was in such awe of what a fine young man you and Mike have raised! He spoke so fondly of you guys and of his brothers. I just kept thinking, wow, you must be so very proud of him! When we got to the restaurant I was disappointed that he wasn’t going to be joining us; he was just so vibrant – the kind of guy everyone wants to be around!
You will have so many fond memories of him – and I pray that the memories will bring you some sense of comfort in the days ahead.

Kristy Glackin 

Mike & Sheila

I am very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

Keith Quisno

We are so sorry for your loss.  Brandon will be remembered.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Jon, Karen, Stephanie and Chris Wright

Mike,Sheila and family
Please accept my condolences and sympathy in this difficult time. My thoughts are with you.

Joe Gebhard

We are so sorry for the loss of your son, we know he was deeply loved. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers. Please know how much your are cared for by all those that know you. Again our deepest sympathy for your loss and if we can help you in anyway do not hesitate to ask.
 Fondly,
The Beechers

We can’t imagine what you are going through, but we pray for you every day.

John, Bea, John, and Lizzie Grosh

Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. May god bless you and your family.

The Bradbury Family

Mr. and Mrs. Lehr-
My husband and I wanted to pass along our prayers and condolences. We had the pleasure of meeting Brandon over Thanksgiving break, as he stayed in our home after interviewing for a job, and awaiting a ride to see friends and family with you.

Brandon was an articulate, mannerly young man with a great deal of enthusiasm for his future. We are so sad to hear of his passing. Brandon was a terrific friend and mentor to our son Tyler, and will be greatly missed.

Sincerely,
Ashley and Stuart Setcavage

Our deepest condolences to your family on the sudden passing of Brandon.  While we only met him briefly, we feel his loss sharply.  Our family is one of Sig Kap and Sig Ep’s THON families.  We lost our daughter in 2007, and no words can express the devastation that a family feels when one of their own is gone forever.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.

The Millers
Randy, Stephanie, MacKenzie, Ryan and Angel Kyla

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Valerie Klinger

We only met your son a couple of times when he visited Berwyn with our Grandsons, Parker and Brennan Umsted.  He was such a delightful and vibrant young man with so much promise.  I know you will miss him greatly.  Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time and the times to come.

Chris & Ralph Umsted

We are so sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with you.

The Mitrotz Family

Our hearts ache for all of Brandon’s family.  While we did not know Brandon, some of our family did and he was obviously a fine young man. 

To Ray and Carol-we wish you and all the family God’s peace and comfort in this terrible time.

Our sincere condolences,
Boots and Don Horn

Mike, Although I can not will not claim to understand what you and your family are going through I can not go without saying how sorry I am for your pain.  If there is anything I can do for you please do not hesitate calling.

You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Jim and Lee Ann Chiego

On behalf of the swimmers, coaches, and parents of the Nittany Lion Aquatic Club, our sincerest condolences go out to your family during this time. For over 3 years Brandon dedicated much of his time and energy to the kids of this community when he could have been doing a million other things and for that we are forever grateful. We will dedicate our season in his honor. Please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Ryan Sprang
Head Coach
Nittany Lion Aquatic Club

Sheila & Mike –
It has been years since we’ve talked, but I wanted to express our sympathy. It’s not supposed to be this way! You will be in our thoughts and prayers!

Blessings & peace-
David & Kathy Kuhn (Salem UCC of Rohrerstown)

I coached many youth sports teams in my younger days and for the most part it’s a thankless job and takes special people to perform that job.  I have three daughters who swim for the Nittany Lion Aquatic Club (NLAC) in State College and we all want to thank Brandon for his help in making NLAC a great place for children to learn and have fun.

Mike Hughes

Brandon was an exceptional young man, full of fun and smiles and had an amazing way with young kids.  My 11 year old was fortunate to have Brandon as his coach a few year ago.   He told me yesterday that he credits Brandon with "getting me excited about swimming, teaching me, encouraging me to try harder."  We are so grateful for this gift, for Brandon’s impact.  We hope you take comfort in these reminders of how large he lived while he was with us. God bless, and thank you for Brandon.
Bridget Donnelly and family, State College, PA
 

We are so sorry for your loss.  Brandon was Ethan’s (age 9) swim coach at NLAC.  Ethan speaks fondly of Brandon and loved how he always let them use flippers.  Our hearts go out to you all.

The Locke family

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Lehr,

My name is Adam Schwartz.  I coach the Junior Blue group for the Nittany Lion Aquatic Club and have coached there with Brandon since April of the past year. 

I can not begin to express the shock and sorrow that I have felt since hearing of Brandon’s passing.  These emotions are shared by all of us at NLAC.

Although I knew Brandon only for a short time, I grew quite fond of him.  His passion for swimming was evident from the moment I met him, he wore a smile on his face every day at practice, and he was a positive influence on his swimmers and co-workers alike, myself included.

I write to you today in hopes of conveying my deepest sympathies and condolences at this difficult time.  Brandon will be sorely missed by all of us at NLAC.  Although no words exist that can truly describe the sadness that surrounds such a tragedy, I hope that some strength and comfort can be gained from knowing that Brandon touched so many so deeply.

I will keep Brandon, you, his brothers, and the rest of his family and friends in my thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,
Adam Schwartz

Brandon always met us with a smile and an encouraging word.  Our children swam on the Stingrays Swim Team and were devoted to Brandon. He was a very special young man and he will be missed.  Our deepest sympathy to the Lehr family.
Dylan, Emma, Jack, Beth and Andrew Harrison

We joined the Stingrays swim team last year.  While we didn’t have an opportunity to know Brandon, it is evident that he made such a positive impact on many young swimmers.  Please accept our sincerest condolences for your loss.

Kathy, Bob, Ethan and Emma Williams

Sheila and Mike,

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Caryn Marzock

We are grieving for you.  Please accept our deepest sympathy.

The Godin Family –
Roger, Marva, David and Leah

I had the honor of coaching directly with Brandon for a year and a half at the Nittany Lion Aquatic Club.  Brandon was an all around great guy and an excellent role model for the kids.  His passing isn’t just a loss for those who knew him, but it is a loss for all the athletes who will never be touched by his love for swimming and his ability to instill positive values in his athletes.  Brandon, his family, and all those who loved him are in my prayers.

Tyler Spindel

Lehr family,
Heartfelt condolences for your loss.
Sending you good and healing thoughts.

Laura Weaver

Sorry Mike & Sheila for your loss of brilliant man Brandon. You probably don’t know me directly, but I’m your dad’s cousin from Chicago Les. Charlotte & I were completely surprised to hear about Brandon. May the good Lord be with you and shield your family throughout this tragedy

God Bless.
Les & Charlotte Lehr.

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