John Lee Spicher, 88, of Lancaster, Pa., died June 21, 2024, in his home. He was born Sept. 12, 1935, in Belleville, Pa., the second child of Jonas Phillip and Rachel Ann (Yoder) Spicher.

He grew up on a dairy farm during the Great Depression. From childhood, he was intrigued with God’s creation, curious about how things function and what his role in the process should be. Frugality, hard work, integrity, acceptance of evolving conditions and respect for others are among the values he learned from his Amish parents.

John met Virginia Joy Peachey in seventh grade; they married 12 years later and reared three children in Irwin, Pa. A certified member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, he enjoyed a 30-year career at the Research and Development Division of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation in Pittsburgh. He graduated from Belleville Mennonite School and Eastern Mennonite College and attended the Medical College of Virginia. On retirement, he earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Geneva College and for 13 years worked in the Science Center at Eastern Mennonite University. He had a deep and abiding appreciation for the Mennonite church and enjoyed sharing his time and resources with Scottdale Mennonite Credit Union, Laurelville Retreat Center, Allegheny Mennonite Conference, Eastern Mennonite University and Harrisonburg Gift and Thrift, especially in support of youth camping at Laurelville.  He sought adventures, learning and travel for as long as he was able.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia Joy (Peachey) Spicher; children James (Carol Burkhart) Spicher of Mountville, Pa., Julia Spicher Kasdorf (Philip Ruth) of Bellefonte, Pa., and Jefferson (Jean Leaman) Spicher of Albany, Ore.; five grandchildren; siblings David (Effie Yoder) Spicher of Belleville, Pa., Salome (Charles) Yoder of Mount Morris, Mich., Rachel (Lee) Hershberger of Whittier, N.C., and Thomas (Sharon Peachey) Spicher of Huntingdon, Pa. He was preceded in death by a brother, Kore, in 1940.