John E. Wheeler, 81, of Wellsboro, PA passed away early Sunday, May 5, 2024, at his home surrounded by family. 

He was born June 15, 1942, in Elmira, NY to John W. and Edith (Jelliff) Wheeler.  He graduated from Wellsboro High School in the class of 1961.  On September 11, 1965 he married Kathleen Lubertowicz with whom he shared 58 years of marriage. 

He served in the US Army National Guard.  John started working for the Wellsboro Police department in 1971, and retired as chief in 2001, served on the Wellsboro Council, and from 2014 to present served as the mayor of Wellsboro.  John was also a member of the Wellsboro Fire and Ambulance for fifty years.  He was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, the Wellsboro Men’s Chorus, Wellsboro Lions Club, Wellsboro Moose and the Fraternal Order of Police.  John enjoyed the outdoors – camping, fishing and hunting, and he was an accomplished woodworker.

John is survived by his wife Kathleen of Wellsboro; a son:  Shawn (Bridget) Wheeler of Wellsboro; two daughters:  Tina (Jody) Holliday of Lockport, NY, and Carol Wheeler and Sean Forsythe of Mechanicsburg; seven grandchildren:  Shane Holliday, Ashia (Frank) Rodriguez, Bethany (Kevin) Colman, Alan (Myesha) Boyce, Jonathan Boyce, Shelby Wheeler, and Taylor Wheeler; two great-grandchildren:  Elizabeth and Abygail Holliday; and a brother:  Richard Wheeler.  He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister:  Marlene Olin.

Friends and family are invited to pay tribute to John’s life from 2-4pm and 6-8pm Friday May 10, 2024, and to his funeral service 11am Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Tussey-Mosher Funeral Home, 139 Main Street, Wellsboro, PA.  Burial will be at Wellsboro Cemetery. 

To share a memory or condolence with his family visit www.tusseymosher.com.