Leon Walter Kerner

Leon Walter Kerner, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and proud Navy veteran, passed away peacefully on September 16, 2025, at Reading Hospital after a brief illness. He was 99 years old.

Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, on March 18, 1926, Leon was the son of Charles D. Kerner and Edith L. Guard. He attended Reading High School until 1943, when he left to serve his country by enlisting in the United States Navy during World War II. He served with honor as an electrician aboard the submarines USS Sea Cat and USS Cutlass in the Pacific Theater.

After the war, Leon continued his naval service on submarines based out of the Panama Canal Zone, New London, Connecticut, and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In 1950, he was part of the historic crew of the USS Pickerel, which traveled 5,280 miles submerged using snorkel technology from Hong Kong to Pearl Harbor in 21 days—a record at the time.

In the late 1950s, he served as lead electrician aboard the USS Tang, the first in a new class of high-speed attack submarines. Commissioned as an officer in 1960, Leon served as Electrical Officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, participating in the Cuban Missile Blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He retired from the Navy in 1967 with the rank of Lieutenant after 24 years of distinguished service.

Leon began a second successful career at American Bank, later Meridian Bank, ultimately retiring as Vice President of Meridian Properties in 1990.

In 1954, Leon married the love of his life, Betty—affectionately known as “his Honey.” Their love story was long and devoted, and he never quite recovered from her passing in 2011. They shared a life filled with love, faith, family, and laughter.

Leon was a devoted member of Schwarzwald Lutheran Church. He will be remembered as a kind and generous soul, a man of quiet strength and deep integrity, and someone whose love for his family, faith, and country was unwavering.

He is survived by his children: Daniel Kerner and his wife Yvonne, Erma Michalak and her husband Jim, and Sandra Myers; his grandchildren: Bryan, Stephany, Megan, Lauren, Julia, Kamryn, Barry, Justin, Nick, and Rick; and eleven great-grandchildren, each of whom brought him immense joy and pride.

Our Dad, Pop-Pop, Grandpop was a kind and generous soul with a love for his family, God and his country, and he will be forever missed. We were all blessed to have been loved by him.

Services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory to the American Heart Association. Your generosity will honor his life by supporting vital research and programs that bring hope to countless families.