John W. Seely
OBITUARY
Loving husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather John W. Seely, 90, of Robertson Road in Sherrill, passed away on August 11, 2024 in the security of his home surrounded and under the care of his loving family. John was born December 29, 1933 in Hazelton, PA and raised in Berwick, PA. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and taught in PA for three years. While in PA he married his first wife, Marian Labuskes of Pittsburgh who died of MS in her late fifties. He moved to Wampsville in 1959 so he could pursue advanced degrees in Syracuse. He took a job teaching junior high art and later became assistant principal at Oneida Middle School. In 1980 he also served as director of Oneida-Madison BOCES summer school until his retirement in 1990. While in Wampsville, he was active in the Boy Scouts, a volunteer firefighter for 25 years, a member of the town council, and mayor for 17 years. During the summer months, John could be found at one of the local golf courses. In the fall, he was a passionate hunter, and when the weather turned bad, he would break out his paintbrushes and watercolors to pass the time. In 1984, John married Maria E. Salerno of Oneida Castle and they have one son, Adam J. Seely, who now lives in Dallas, Texas. His brother, Richard C. Seely, predeceased him in the Vietnam War. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Maria, their son, Adam, his children with his first wife, John Robert Seely of Morgantown, Pennsylvania, Ronald J. Seely of Wapwallopen, Pennsylvania, Susan Seely of Oneida, New York, Richard L. Seely of Stuttgart, Germany, his sisters Barbara and Sharon, his brother Alan, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick’s Church. Friends may call Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Campbell-Dean Funeral Home, Inc., 260 Main Street, Oneida. Donations in his memory may be made to the Faxton Outpatient Rehabilitation Center or the Wampsville Fire Department. To leave a condolence, please visit www.campbell-dean.com.
