Joel Reich

January 8, 2021

Joel Reich, 79, of Mertztown, PA died Friday January 8, 2021 at home surrounded by family. He was born in Manhattan, NY to the late Alexander and Bertha Reich. He was married to Gail (Winters) for 30 years until her death in May 1994. He was also preceded in death by his son Lance Perry Reich in 2006. Joel was employed by NY Telephone Company for 30 years until his retirement and then went to work for Penn Produce in Allentown, PA. He graduated from Samuel J. Tilden HS in Brooklyn, NY. Joel had a great sense of humor and could always make you smile with his silly stories and personality. His lifelong collection of Car & Driver magazines transformed him into a car buff and you could always find him walking around Ford dealerships in search of his next vehicle. He loved his NY Yankees and would always have a little antidote about his idol Mickey Mantle. His love of Nascar driver made him a fixture in front of his tv during the big races. Joel is survived by his daughter Robin Reich-Cohen, wife of Stu Cohen of Glen Mills, PA; son James Reich of Mertztown, PA; fiancé Carol Shackelford of Douglassville, PA; grandson Drew Cohen, husband of Melissa Cohen of Glen Mills, PA; granddaughter Dana Meckes, wife of Tyler Meckes of Glen Mills, PA; great grandchildren Kaylie and Grayson; step children Billy and Janet Shackelford of Douglassville, PA and Georgette and Fred Maher of Glen Mills, PA; step grandchildren Cara, Michael, Haley, and Chloe; sister in law Georgeann Szilagyi, wife of Rocky of Philipsburg, NJ. Graveside Service: 12:00 PM Tuesday, January 12, at Keneseth Israel Cemetery located at 2438 Coolidge Street, Allentown, PA 18104.