Dr. Rudolph Lucas Kagerer (a.k.a. Doc)

Dr. Kagerer was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on June 1, 1931 and passed away in Athens, Georgia on January 3, 2026. The only child of John and Hermine Ehrhardt Kagerer (later Hermine Kurz). He attended Fairfield College Preparatory School, then served four years in the U.S. Navy from 1949-1953, during the Korean War. He earned a BA from the University of Connecticut, an MS from Purdue University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee. Rudy married Doris Emma Munich on June 23, 1956. He worked for the Department of the Army and a consulting firm in human factors projects from 1951-1957, writing several project manuals for the military. He joined The University of Georgia faculty in the College of Business Administration in 1971 and taught in the Management Department until his retirement in 1993. During his tenure at the University, he served as Director of the Employee Relations Institute and of the Small Business Institute. He was national president and a Fellow of the Small Business Institute Directors’ Association. He also lectured to business and labor union conferences at the University. While serving at the University he authored or co-authored some 40 pieces of literature, ranging from journal articles to user manuals.

Rudy (a.k.a. Doc) served as a boy scout leader for 60 years, ending his leadership after serving 40+ years as scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 22, sponsored by the First Baptist Church in Athens. With his wife, Doris, he founded Lighthouse Enterprises, Inc. to pursue his love of coastal lighthouses. He authored two guidebooks of lighthouses on the east coast and enjoyed the trips to research and visit them. Dr. Kagerer was a hiker and explorer, having hiked in Peru, Chile, Argentina, Alaska, Switzerland, New Zealand, and on the Appalachian Trail and numerous other trails in the United States. His most recent adventure was Bungee Jumping in New Zealand at the age of 81.

He is survived by his wife of 69-1/2 years, Doris Emma Munich; two sons, Eric (Vickie) of Duluth, GA; Danny (Susan) of Hendersonville, NC; three grandchildren, Melissa (Michael) of Seattle, WA; Christopher of Hendersonville, NC; Jason (Shannon) of Boiling Springs, SC; and two great-granddaughters Miley and Zoiey of Boiling Springs, SC.

Funeral Services will be held in the Chapel at Bernstein Funeral Home, 3195 Atlanta Highway, Athens on Friday, January 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., preceded by a visitation with the family from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Georgia Appalachian Trail Club, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. https://georgia-atclub.org/donate/

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.