Joan L. (Newmyer) Wels

Joan L. (Newmyer) Wels, 91, of Mechanicsburg, PA, passed away on January 3, 2026 surrounded by her loving family at Messiah Lifeways where she was staying for rehab following a brief illness. 

    Joan was born on November 30, 1934, in Harrisburg, PA. She was the daughter of the late Edward Newmyer and Pauline R. (Lehmer) Newmyer Morelock.

    She was a 1952 graduate of John Harris High School and went on to obtain a B.S. in Secondary Education from West Chester State College in 1957. Joan taught mathematics in the Harrisburg School District for over 30 years and was loved by her students who appreciated her teaching style to “make Algebra cool.”  

   Joan was preceded in death by her aunt, Dorothy (Lehmer) Bodwell, in 2006, and her stepfather, Paul A. Morelock, in 2015. 

   She is survived by her husband of nearly 64 years, Horst Wels, her daughter, Keena L. Snyder (Joseph Schmidt) of Mechanicsburg, PA, and her beloved grandsons Ian R. and Ryan P. Snyder. David Lehmer (Judi), Joan’s cousin, of Mentor, OH, along with their children Beth Hughes and Brian Lehmer, also survive, along with Joan’s niece, Susanne Ferber, and nephew, Joerg Oehler, who reside in Germany.

   Joan’s family would like to extend gratitude to Home Instead and their dedicated staff for helping care for her at home for the past several months, and to Dr. Jeffrey Matzoni and nurse Samantha at Penn State Health Medical Group - Market Plaza Internal Medicine for their compassionate care over the years. 

   In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joan’s name to The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank at 3908 Corey Road Harrisburg, PA 17109, or to Furry Friends Network (to honor the soft spot that Joan had in her heart for all animals) P.O. Box 519 Boiling Springs, PA 17007. Services will be private. Interment will be in the Dillsburg Cemetery.