Ted Fisher Kreider, 69

December 17, 2023

Ted Fisher Kreider was born on December 1, 1954 & passed away on December 17,2023 at the age of 69 from pancreatic cancer! Ted grew up in Southern Lancaster County, son of Mary & Robert Kreider. The family moved to Clearwater Beach, Florida for Robert’s health but traveled back & forth to PA over the course of the next several years, returning permanently to PA when Ted was 12 or 13 years old! He graduated from Penn Manor high school, class of 1971 on a Friday and immediately went to work on Monday!

Ted worked for Charlie Kaufman as a carpenter where he honed his woodworking skills! He moved on to PPL working in various positions, including lineman, lineman leader, foreman and eventually supervisor! Ted was exceptional at his job, especially since he is a perfectionist! Eventually, the guys who worked for him, tried to live up to his expectations which they lovingly called TSA~ Teddy’s Seal of Approval!!!

Ted retired from PPL at the age of 59 1/2 in March 2014 after working there 35 years!

In his 20’s Ted played fast pitch softball for the Southern End Church League. He also loved to ski and was an avid hunter~Spring cobbler season was his favorite!

Upon arriving home from school one rainy afternoon, Ted told Carol he had something he wanted to talk to her about! He proceeded to say he did not want to upset her …. and by now had her full attention! He announced he wanted to start doing triathlons at the ripe young age of 60! He was not a strong swimmer, and with the help from a friend starting swimming laps in the pool at CCHS! He then went on YouTube and was intrigued by the TI (total immersion) style of swimming! , Ted perfected this and went on to complete in five sprint triathlons over the course of the next five years!

Ted excelled at everything he touched! His work/life philosophy was “it’s not knowing how to do something but wanting to do it” & then completing it to the satisfaction of perfection! There was nothing Ted couldn’t do once he decided on a specific endeavor! For example, when we decided to change our pool from a chlorine to a saltwater pool, Ted went on YouTube watched the video several times & saved us thousands of dollars and again performing this skill to perfection! When our TV capacitor went out~ Ted found this to be a challenge & after purchasing the tiny component that cost less than two dollars, he proceeded to dismantle the motherboard, solder the little piece in place then reassembled it. That TV worked for several more years! Again, it’s not knowing how to do something, but wanting to do it was his philosophy!

When we renovated our last home, the contractor allowed Ted to work with him side-by-side! Ted completed projects such as laying the wood floors on the entire first level all within one weekend to fit into the contractor’s schedule! When it came time to renovate the kitchen, he tiled the backsplash, dropped the new stove in and vented it to code! Ted continued to teach himself the art of tiling to complete our master bathroom! He installed the Italian tile and heated Italian tile floors again to perfection! By that time, our contractor wanted to hire him!

As recent as last year, we began renovating our condo at Lake Norman. Ted masterfully took out the old fireplace ~ tiled the wall and put in an electric fireplace ~ all to perfection… all in one weeks’ time ~ while he was fighting Covid! Again, there is nothing Ted could not do!

Ted had several other hobbies that included wood carving, pottery, kayaking, painting, tiling, and building beautiful live edge tables to name a few! While carving a bass fish for a close friend~ he started with a chunk of bass wood~ and as he put it, “the next thing I knew I had a fish in my hands!” Once he mastered any project to his satisfaction, he would look for the next challenge!

Ted loved boats & being on the water! He was an amateur bass fisherman! He loved to travel to North Carolina to our condo on Lake Norman as well as Topsail Island, & other destinations which included the ocean, gulf or any area with a body of water!

Ted was a humble man~ a generous man~ a God fearing/loving man! Although he & Carol chose not to have children, they had fur babies! Ted loved all of their fur babies but Sullivan, Sully is/was his favorite~ to the point when Ted would walk in from work or wherever he’d been~ he’d kiss/love his boy, Sully…then Carol! When Sully passes, his ashes will join Ted’s in his urn!

Ted & Carol would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in June!

He is survived by his wife, Carol (Lititz); his brother, Robert Kreider ( wife, Sue) Conestoga, PA, Jack Jones, brother-in-law, Moscow, PA; Nancy Schwenk, sister-in-law (Husband~ Ray) Elmhurst, PA; Bonnie, sister-in-law (Dave~ partner) Harrisburg, PA as well as numerous nephews and a niece, & great niece and nephews!

There aren’t words to describe this loss! If you knew Ted you are lucky & are aware of the gift Heaven has gained! Ted knew the path he would take to Heaven; he courageously was at peace from the beginning of his journey!

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, the Kreider’s would ask you make a donation to ABBCI, who provided exceptional care & comfort to Ted & Carol! Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute, https://lghealth.org/makeagift or The Lancaster General Health Foundation, 2110 Harrisburg Pike, Suite 205, Lancaster, PA 17601 – or to the Humane League of Lancaster County, https://humanepa.org/, in honor of Ted Kreider ~

Ted now rests in peace, having joined his parents, former fur babies, and close friends whom preceded him in death!

A Celebration of Ted’s Life will be held at 4PM on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at the Charles F. Snyder, Jr. Funeral Home and Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543. Family and friends will be received from 2PM until the time of service.