Funeral Held For Mercer Co. Officer Killed In Crash
GREENVILLE (KDKA) – A Mercer County police officer killed in a crash earlier this month, was laid to rest Wednesday morning.
They lined both sides of Main Street in Greenville, a sea of umbrellas and American flags.
The people Greenville-West Salem Police Officer Jeremiah Christner had served, and the people he and his son had loved.
Even in death, the father and son are bringing life to the community as hundreds stood in the rain to pay their respects and to say thank you.
Leah Mariacher told KDKA's Brenda Waters: "It's a very sad passing, and Jeremiah Sr. was a great officer, one of the best here. And Jeremiah Jr. worked at Dairy Queen with my best friend, and he was always happy. Sad to see both of them go at the same time."
Michael Riley also stood in the rain to say goodbye.
"He was a well-respected young man, police officer. His son was well liked in the community as well," Riley said
Two identical light gray caskets and sprays of flowers, one for 41-year-old Jeremiah Christner and the other for his 17-year-old son - they sat side-by-side in front of Living Word Christian Center in Greenville. Every seat was filled, and everyone's heart broken.
Officer Christner had been a patrolman with the Greenville-West Salem Police Department for 10 years.
He and his son were killed in a crash last Thursday when the senior Christner lost control of the SUV he was driving in a curve, hitting another vehicle.
Family member after family member spoke of their love and what a gift the two had been.
Some of the Christner children sang.
Sherry Christner thanked everyone for coming to help celebrate the lives of her husband and son.
Bagpipes played as family, police officers and friends left the church.
The procession stopped in front of the Greenville-West Salem Police Station where Officer Christner made his last call with his son behind him.
One young lady said, "I think they would deserve to have people stand in the rain for as much as they did for us."
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
