John E. Gatten died on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at home with family and friends surrounding him. John fought a hard battle with cancer. He was born on March 5, 1960, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He was 65 years old.

John lived a full life, spending most of his time in the civic and service fields of work. He enlisted in the United States Air Force, actively serving from 1979 to 1983 and serving inactively from 1983 to 1985, shortly after graduation from Big Spring School District in 1978. Upon leaving the Air Force he returned to the Newville area and entered the field of mental health services. He spent 18 years working for Merakey in Dauphin County and then another 13 years in Cumberland County. He worked for Dauphin County Case Management Unit (CMU) for 5 years during his break between Cumberland and Dauphin Counties. He semi-retired in 2019 but began a new profession working at the Cumberland Perry Area Career Technical Center as an Instructional Assistant until his cancer and treatments began to deteriorate his health. He also was a substitute teacher at the Cumberland Perry Area CTC during the Covid-19 pandemic.

John served on the Newville Borough Planning Commission for 4 years, Newville Borough Council for 8 years, and served as Newville’s Mayor for 6 years. This occurred from 1994 through 2010. In 2015, John decided to finish his college degree and enrolled at the Pennsylvania State University. He received his degree in Law and Society in May of 2025. He then was inducted into the Phi Delta Phi, International Law Honor Society through the Pre-Law Hall of the Pennsylvania State University.

John was a past member of the Newville Historical Society and a past member of the Big Spring Fish and Game. John enjoyed all types of hunting and would welcome conversations that included this topic with his family and friends. He loved staying at his cabin and hunting with his daughter and siblings. He also enjoyed traveling to different locations when on vacation with his family. He really liked Penn State football, holding season tickets for many years.

John was predeceased by his parents, Sherrill L. Gatten, Sr., Joanne S. Garner, and his stepmother, Francis Laurabell (Emlet) Gatten. Also, his son, John R. Gatten and his brother, Sherrill Lee Gatten, Jr.

John is survived by his wife, Kimberly Stry Gatten, his daughter, Addison E. Gatten, his brothers, Charles Gatten (Marylin), Richard Gatten (Jody), his sisters, Debra Liberator (Gary Lefever), Connie Gardner (Keith), Lisa Wannyn (Steve), many cousins, nieces and nephews

John’s memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 24, 2026, at Ewing Brothers Funeral Home, 630 S. Hanover St., Carlisle. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cumberland Perry Area CTC in care of The John and Addison Gatten Award for Perseverance. www.EwingBrothers.com.