John Wadel

John Samuel Wadel, 79, of Chambersburg, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on
Monday, April 29, 2024.
Born on March 3, 1945, in Chambersburg, PA, he was a son of the late Noah B. Wadel and Lydia
Marie Horst Wadel.
John is survived by his wife, Connie K. Neil Wadel, whom he married on November 6, 1965, a
son, Edwin J. (Shawna) Wadel, two daughters, Mona L (Kevin) Buchanan and Mary E. (Brent)
Horst, four granddaughters, Debbie, Karina, Faith, and Hope, five grandsons, Grant, Kyle, Joel,
Wade, and Keenan, four great-grandsons, Emmett, Liam, Caleb, and Rhett, three great-
granddaughters, Vera, Vivian and Lacey, three brothers, Daniel (Esther Mae) Wadel, James
(Ellen) Wadel, and Robert (Brenda) Wadel, and three sisters, Esther (Lester) Showalter, Eunice
Lehman, and Martha (Isaac) Horst, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepmother, Mary Ebersole Wadel,
two brothers, Luke Wadel and Noah Wadel, Jr., and an infant sister, Emily Rose Wadel.
John was a lifelong member of the Mercersburg Mennonite Church, formerly the Williamson
Mennonite Church, and served as a trustee, song leader, and Sunday school teacher in his
earlier years. He and Connie also served together as worship leaders at Rock Hill Mennonite
Church from 1997 to 2007.
John decided as a young man to follow Jesus Christ and make Him the Lord of his life. He
remained faithful to that decision all his life. He was passionate about telling others about his
faith in Jesus and wanted them to know Him, too. He expressed his passion for Christ in many
ways, including short-term mission trips to Guatemala, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Gambia,
giving to ministries such as Global Disciples, the Bezaleel School project in Guatemala, and the
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and showing kindness to those less fortunate
than himself.
John worked hard to provide for his family at Sollenberger Silos, Leonard Granite Company, and
Shull-Koontz Memorials, where he remained for 30 years until his full retirement in 2019. A
member of the Woodturners' Association, he enjoyed creating wooden bowls and other items
for family members as gifts. He also spent many hours putting jigsaw puzzles together and
framing them to hang on the wall and he loved music, especially hymns, and the written word,
especially the Bible. One of his greatest joys in recent years was becoming a great-grandfather
and loved being called "Pappy John" by his five great-grandchildren.
John will be greatly missed, but all of us who love him are thankful that he is whole and healthy
and filled with joy at walking with his Savior in Heaven. We will see him again someday!
A visitation will be held 6:00 – 8:00 PM on Friday, May 3, at the Mercersburg Mennonite Church. A funeral service will be 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 4, at the Mercersburg Mennonite Church with Pastor David Possinger officiating
. Arrangements by Fries Funeral Home Inc., Mercersburg, PA.