Joseph J. Shemeta

Joseph John Shemeta of Cornwall Manor died peacefully at home on Jan 24, 2017. He was the much-loved husband of Anne Shroyer Shemeta, with whom he recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Born in Windber, PA, on February 28, 1928, he was the son of the late Joseph and Mary Jurick Shemeta of Elizabeth NJ. Joe graduated in the class of ’46 from Thomas Jefferson High School and was active in sports, co-captaining the football team. He enlisted in the Navy with his best friend Ed and was trained as a metalsmith, serving on the USS Midway, the aircraft carrier from which a German V-2 rocket was first fired. Following his service, he enrolled at Lebanon Valley College on a football scholarship and the GI Bill. At LVC Joe was a member of KALO and served as its president his senior year. He was active in the PolSci Club and the Knights of the Valley, and graduated in 1952 with a BS in Business Administration. After moving to Delaware, he enjoyed a sales career in building products, eventually forming his own company. He and Anne were co-owners of Burkholder’s Preschool for fifteen years. Anne and Joe built a home in Newark DE in 1970, down the street from the University of Delaware, from which all three children graduated. Joe and Anne moved to Mount Gretna PA in retirement, where their friend Merv winterized their summer cottage for year-round living. They so enjoyed being close enough to attend LVC football and basketball games and other campus activities. Driving for Enterprise part-time helped fill retirement, and he served on the Mount Gretna Campmeeting Board of Managers. He loved fishing with son Andy and grandson Zach, playing golf with Andy, Zach, and son-in-law Greg, and golfing with Friends of Frick and his Newark DE Country Club cronies as well. He and his local golfing buddy, Pete, enjoyed beating the “young’uns”, Lou and BG, on Canada vacations, and in the LVC Golf Tournament at Fairview, Joe enjoyed the matches with Rick and Jim. Joe’s golf dreams were realized when he played the mirror course at St. Andrew’s in Scotland, the Monterey and Torrey Pines courses in California, and Sarasota courses with George, “Whiz” and Jay. Winters in Siesta Key and Sarasota for beach time and jazz concerts made old age a pleasure. Joe loved the warm weather and the opportunity to play golf virtually year-round. His family was his proudest achievement! In addition to wife Anne, he is survived by two daughters: Susan, wife of Gregory Stachelczyk, California MD; and Ellen, wife of Jack Keosseian, Barnegat NJ; and son Andrew Shemeta, husband of Christine, York PA; two grandchildren, Christine Long Stachelczyk and Zachary Joseph Stachelczyk, husband of Kristi, California MD; two step-grandchildren, Ryan and Nicole Bega; sisters-in-law Frances Bova, and Lois, wife of Richard Smith, Oil City PA, along with numerous grandnieces and nephews. On his parents’ side, an aunt, Agnes Royko, Clark NJ; cousins Patricia, wife of Alfred Beronio, Martinsville NJ, and Marjorie Evans, Lawrenceville NJ. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Evensong Program, c/o Bill Claxton or to Lebanon Valley College, office of the Chaplain.

Joseph J. Shemeta

February 28, 1928 - January 24, 2017