Mark Christian Yerger, age 61, died on September 6, 2016. A Lancaster County native, he was a historian and traveled in both the US and Europe. A recognized authority on the Verfugungstruppe and Waffen-SS, he was the author of more than 20 books specializing in biographical research. Among his books were the first authorized biography of a Waffen-SS Ritterkreuztrager and the nine volume definitive study of SS and Polizei German Cross recipients.
Traveling to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic multiple times in the course of his historical endeavors, he was the only American awarded the HIAG Ehrennadel in Gold for research with several of his books being published in other languages. His massive 900 pages of “Totenkopf” study was released this year while his final book will be published in 2017.
A lifelong music enthusiast, he only ever liked Hard Rock and Heavy Metal with anything else being considered just noise. He preferred a close seat at the more than 200 concerts he attended to a week vacation, being well known by his friends for having insanely loud car and home stereo systems. His other interests were collecting art by Frank Wooton and Robert Taylor as well as studying aeronautical development of the 1930s and 1940s with a personal library on the subject totalling some 2,000 volumes.
A devoted pet owner and supporter of animal rights, he adopted fully grown abandoned animals from the Lancaster Humane League who then lived like royalty. His last pet, Dave, was named after the lead guitarist of Megadeth. He loved the pool in the summer months and enjoyed decorating his residence that intensely reflected his diverse interests and taste. He lived life his own way; focused, functionally idealistic, determined and did what it takes to live a uniquely uncommon life.
He was the son of the late Richard E. Yerger and Katheryn Woelper Yerger.
He is survived by his Aunt Nadine Hanna and by his sister Leslie Fiorenza who he adored and recently took for a ride in a B-17 “Flying Fortress.”
Memorial contributions can be made to the Cat Building at Lancaster Humane League, 2195 Lincoln Hwy East, Lancaster, PA 17601