Lehnerd

William A. "Uncle Bill" Lehnerd, 79, of Butler, died peacefully Wednesday morning at his home.

Born on Mother's Day, May 11, 1930, he was a son of Wendle and Agnes Conrad Lehnerd.

Bill was a graduate of Butler High School, Class of 1948, as well as a graduate of Northwestern University and the Pittsburgh Playhouse School of Theatre.

A teacher of speech, theater and English for 31 years at Butler High School, he also taught speech or theater at Northwestern University, Michigan State University and Butler County Community College.

Always involved in the arts, Mr. Lehnerd, Uncle Bill to many friends, was one of the founders, past president and the first director of the Musical Theatre Guild in 1962. He founded the Butler Summer Dramatics Project in 1967 and the Masquers Musicals in 1957, directing many of their yearly productions. Before retirement, he directed many of the high school plays as well and sponsored the Butler High School Thespian Troupe for 28 years.

Active with the Butler Little Theatre for many years, he directed a play in 1961 and has done lighting design for numerous productions.

Loving on-stage as well as backstage work, Bill has appeared in acting roles, large and small with Musical Theatre Guild and Butler Little Theatre as well as other theater companies in several states.

Bill was a member of the board of directors of the Butler County Symphony for many years and was serving as president and head of the property committee. He was one of the founding members of the original Butler Arts Council and has assisted the present council with fundraising. He initiated and directs the "Butler to Broadway" and "December in New York" theater trips.

Other activities include the Butler Hospital Auxiliary, where he has more than 1,200 hours working the front information desk. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees and has served as vice-president. He was a 34-year member of the Butler County Teachers Federal Credit Union.

Mr. Lehnerd was a member of the St. Peter Roman Catholic Church and was a U.S. Army veteran, Third Infantry Division.

He is survived by his aunt and uncle, Phillip and Ann Lehnerd of Butler; nephews, Wendle Lehnerd, Thomas Lehnerd Jr., James Lehnerd, Joseph Lehnerd and Charles Lehnerd; great-nieces, Stephanie Lehnerd, Christina Lehnerd and Samantha Lehnerd of Butler; and numerous other great-nieces and great-nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents; a brother, Thomas Lehnerd; and a niece, Diana Lehnerd.

<B>LEHNERD</B> — Friends of William A. "Uncle Bill" Lehnerd, who died Wednesday, May 27, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Peter Catholic Church, 127 Franklin St., Butler, with the Rev. James Dolan, pastor, officiating. Interment will follow at the St. Peter Cemetery.The Women's Council of St. Peter Parish will meet at 10:40 a.m. Monday at the church to recite the rosary.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.