Louis J. Rusnock

Louis (Lou) Rusnock , 72, of Whitehall, Pa., passed on after a valiant fight against pancreatic cancer on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 at his home with his family by his side. Born Feb. 18, 1952, in Hazleton, Pa. and raised in Kelayres, Pa., Lou was the son of the late John Rusnock and the late Anna (Ciglar) Rusnock. He was the husband of Elisa (Piergrossi) Rusnock with whom he would have shared 46 years of marriage on Oct. 7, 2024.

Lou was a dedicated special educator. He started his career as a teacher with Berks County Intermediate Unit and moved to Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit as a supervisor. He served as director of Special Education and Student Services at North Penn School District before finishing his career as director of Special Education at Montgomery County Intermediate Unit. After retiring from public schools, Lou served as director of Special Education for the Diocese of Allentown. Throughout his career, Lou was known for creating innovative programs that served students of every need and ability.

Lou loved sports and travel. He played golf under the midnight sun in Alaska, photographed the Northern Lights in Iceland, and cruised through the Panama Canal. He traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Lou was an avid golfer and was a member of the former Blue Ridge Country Club, Palmerton, Pa., and Bonita National Golf and Country Club in Bonita Springs, Fla. He recorded a hole-in-one at Willow Brook Golf Course in October 2020.

Lou was a devoted follower of all Philadelphia sports teams as well as the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a member of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, Coplay, PA.

Lou is survived by his wife, Elisa; children, Louis II and Stephanie Simon of Philadelphia, Rebekah of Bethlehem, and Sarah of Whitehall; brother John and his wife Jackie of Reading, Pa.; and sister Imelda and her husband George Lawrence of Mechanicsburg, Pa.; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held 10:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, 4 S. Fifth St., Coplay, PA 18037. Family and friends may call from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, at Schisler Funeral Home, 2119 Washington Ave., Northampton, PA 18067 and 9 to 10 a.m., Monday Sept. 23, 2024 prior to Mass. Interment will follow in St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, Coplay, Pa.

Contributions may be made in Lou's memory to Special Olympics Pennsylvania-Greater Lehigh Valley Pocono Region or Lehigh Valley Health Network Topper Cancer Institute both care of the funeral home.

Online condolences may be offered at www.schislerfuneralhomes.com.