Obituaries
Obituary for David L. "Zeke" Lahr
On Saturday, November 2, 2019, David (Zeke) Lyster Lahr, loving brother and step-son passed away In Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 68. He was born on August 20, 1951, also in Allentown to the late David Truman Lahr and Dorothy Lyster Lahr. David is survived by his sister Nancy Alice Wisser (Nazareth), brothers Michael Lincoln Lahr (Princeton, NJ) and Andrew Davies Lahr (Orwigsburg), step-mother Carolyn Lahr Bradley (Springfield, MA), as well as a niece, five nephews, two grand nephews, and a multitude of cousins including Gary Hamill (Minisink Hills).
David graduated from Kutztown Area High School in 1969 and then Kutztown State University in 1975 with a B.A. in Political Science after attending William & Mary College. He took on an assortment of positions before he became sous chef at a hotel in Mt. Union, Pennsylvania. He followed up by attending law school at West Virginia University with an interest in environmental law. David graduated with a J.D. in 1981, and passed the Pennsylvania bar immediately thereafter. He first worked as a public defender for Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, and subsequently started a private practice in Allentown. He then moved on to a role as a public defender in Berks County, where he also took up private practice. He later returned to West Virginia to litigate in Charleston on behalf of the state’s Office of Waste Management, Division of Environmental Protection until 1995, at which point he stopped practicing law.
David blazed pathways for his three younger siblings.
He shared his passion for nature. For example, he annually announced the return migration of swifts. He also devoted much concern to water quality in Pennsylvania’s streams. “Uncle Zeke” taught his niece and nephews patience through the art of fishing.
David loved music, mostly the blues and rock. He had rather diverse tastes, e.g., Credence Clearwater Revival, Jimi Hendricks, Eric Clapton, the Doors, Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa, the Rolling Stones, and Ry Cooder. He often recalled being part of an extraordinarily ephemeral band called “Swamp Fox and the Grease Lightening Blues Band” (formerly “Red Eye,” formerly “Pig Iron”). He was an outstanding storyteller. David never lost his love of the Philadelphia Phillies, even after losing a bet when they failed to win the pennant in 1964. (The payment was rolling a peanut down a school hall with his nose.) He was extremely sociable with a quick wit, an infectious smile, and a kind and compassionate spirit.
A memorial gathering and testimonial will be held on Saturday, November, 9, 2019, at the recreation room of Towne Apartments located at 1827 West Walnut Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania. The service will start at 2:00 P.M. The family asks, in lieu of flowers, that donations in his memory be sent to Wildlands Conservancy, 3701 Orchid Place, Emmaus, PA 18049.
The Brubaker Funeral Home, Inc. of Catasauqua is in charge of arrangements.
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David graduated from Kutztown Area High School in 1969 and then Kutztown State University in 1975 with a B.A. in Political Science after attending William & Mary College. He took on an assortment of positions before he became sous chef at a hotel in Mt. Union, Pennsylvania. He followed up by attending law school at West Virginia University with an interest in environmental law. David graduated with a J.D. in 1981, and passed the Pennsylvania bar immediately thereafter. He first worked as a public defender for Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, and subsequently started a private practice in Allentown. He then moved on to a role as a public defender in Berks County, where he also took up private practice. He later returned to West Virginia to litigate in Charleston on behalf of the state’s Office of Waste Management, Division of Environmental Protection until 1995, at which point he stopped practicing law.
David blazed pathways for his three younger siblings.
He shared his passion for nature. For example, he annually announced the return migration of swifts. He also devoted much concern to water quality in Pennsylvania’s streams. “Uncle Zeke” taught his niece and nephews patience through the art of fishing.
David loved music, mostly the blues and rock. He had rather diverse tastes, e.g., Credence Clearwater Revival, Jimi Hendricks, Eric Clapton, the Doors, Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa, the Rolling Stones, and Ry Cooder. He often recalled being part of an extraordinarily ephemeral band called “Swamp Fox and the Grease Lightening Blues Band” (formerly “Red Eye,” formerly “Pig Iron”). He was an outstanding storyteller. David never lost his love of the Philadelphia Phillies, even after losing a bet when they failed to win the pennant in 1964. (The payment was rolling a peanut down a school hall with his nose.) He was extremely sociable with a quick wit, an infectious smile, and a kind and compassionate spirit.
A memorial gathering and testimonial will be held on Saturday, November, 9, 2019, at the recreation room of Towne Apartments located at 1827 West Walnut Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania. The service will start at 2:00 P.M. The family asks, in lieu of flowers, that donations in his memory be sent to Wildlands Conservancy, 3701 Orchid Place, Emmaus, PA 18049.
The Brubaker Funeral Home, Inc. of Catasauqua is in charge of arrangements.
To plant a tree in memory of David L. "Zeke" Lahr, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Service
Saturday
9
Nov
2:00 PM
Towne Apartments
1827 West Walnut Street
Allentown, PA 18104
Memorial Contribution
Wildlands Conservancy
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