John Albert Wetzel, Esq.

John Albert Wetzel, Esq., born August 26, 1945, returned to heaven on September 5, 2026, after a brief illness.

Born in Philadelphia to the late Joseph and Mary Wetzel, John was raised in Germantown. As a young man, he was adventurous and rambunctious, traveling across the United States by train and hitchhiking. After leaving high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving with the 8th Infantry and advancing to the rank of E-5. He later joined the Airborne Unit and Intelligence Corps in Stuttgart, Germany. John credited his fellow service members with encouraging him to earn his GED and pursue higher education.

After returning to the United States, John graduated from Temple University and became a member of the inaugural class at Delaware Law School. He focused his legal practice on bankruptcy, commercial transactions, wills, trusts, estate planning and administration. He practiced law with Wessel & Carpel and Swartz Campbell, before opening his own firm with colleagues at Wetzel, Gagliardi, Fetter & Lavin LLC in West Chester.

John was deeply committed to giving back and served as an adjunct professor at Delaware Law School, teaching Corporate Reorganization & Chapter 11 courses, and lecturing on Business Law and Consumer Bankruptcy Practice and Procedure at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, University of Vilnius, Lithuania, and ETLE University, Budapest Hungary. John represented clients in the Enron, Adelphia, Nortel, and Orleans Builders bankruptcy cases, as well as clients in the United States Bankruptcy courts in Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Dedicated to helping others, John established “The John A. and Donna C. Wetzel Endowed Scholarship” for non-traditional students in need of financial aid at Delaware Law School.

John was the beloved husband of Donna, with whom he traveled the world, laughed endlessly and raised three children. He missed her dearly following her passing. An adventurous spirit throughout his life, John climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, walked hundreds of miles along the Camino de Santiago, traveled around the world playing rugby and golf whenever the opportunity arose. He never knew a stranger and welcomed countless friends and family members to his favorite place, Rangeley, Maine.

The family is deeply grateful for the exceptional care and kindness John received from the staff at Jefferson Hospital over the past six years. Their support will always be remembered.

John is survived by his children, Jonathan, Ian, and Kate; his grandchildren, Poseidon and Thalia Wetzel; his brother, Joseph Wetzel (Veronica); and his sister, Maryrose Wineburg.

Relatives and friends are invited to his visitation on Friday, October 2, 2026 from 11:00 am - 11:45 am at SS. Simon & Jude Church 8 Cavanaugh Court West Chester, PA 19382, followed by his Funeral Mass at 12:00 pm. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The John A. and Donna C. Wetzel Endowed Scholarship, Delaware Law School, or Sacred Heart School in Camden, NJ, through a donation or student sponsorship. If you'd like to donate by check to the scholarship fund or Delaware Law School please send check to the below address and designate preference in the memo line: Office of Development - Widener University P.O. Box 95000-2893, Philadelphia, PA 19195

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, PA 610-696-1181; www.DellaFH.com

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