John R. Shuman, 59, of Pequea peacefully passed away surrounded by his family on April 4, 2014 at Hospice in Mount Joy after a June 2013 cancer diagnosis.

Known as "Bobby" to childhood friends and many in his family, John was born in Lancaster on December 18, 1954 to the late Blanche L. (Henry) Shuman and John W. Shuman, Jr. of Holtwood.His maternal grandparents were Ruth I. (Shrom) and Richard L. Henry of Chestnut Level.His paternal grandparents were Helen M. (Gaul) and John W. Shuman, Sr. of Quarryville.

John leaves behind his beloved wife and children; Theresa J. (Warnock) Shuman of Pequea with whom he shared nearly 32 years of marriage; Claudia R. of Lewes, DE and Erich C. of Lancaster.He treasured his years as a husband and father. He was happy and grateful to have gotten to see Claudia and Erich grow into tremendous young adults and launch out along their chosen paths.

John is also survived by his sister Vicki Secord, wife of Steven Secord of Toledo, OH; his aunt Doris (Shuman) Baker of Willow Street; aunt Vera Henry of Chestnut Level; cousin Carolyn Rhoades, wife of Bruce Rhoades of Holtwood; parents-in-law John and Mary Warnock of Macomb, IL; brother-in-law Michael Warnock, engaged to Jill Sappington of Columbia, MO; and cousins, niece and nephews.

John grew up in southern Lancaster County playing baseball and softball, fishing, hunting, and collecting things to look at under his microscope.He shared those joys with his family, and treasured countless new adventures, especially summer camping trips to Maine. He was a lifelong Baltimore Orioles fan. Fair play and integrity were mantras.

John graduated from Penn Manor in 1973, from Millersville University with a B.A. in biology in 1978, and received his Ph.D. in environmental biology from Kansas State University in 1988.It was during graduate school that he met his wife, Terri. They were married in her home town of Macomb, IL on June 5, 1982.

John carried his formative experiences exploring the lands and waters of the Susquehanna River Hills forward in a lifelong pursuit of water resource protection.He was particularly concerned about the health of the Susquehanna River watershed and its downstream impacts on the Chesapeake Bay.John enjoyed a rewarding 30+ year career as an aquatic ecologist including work with the St. Johns River Water Management District in Palatka, FL. It was during the Florida years that Claudia and Erich were born.

John also worked with various environmental consulting firms, most recently with JMT in Sparks, MD and York.He had also formed his own company, Downstream Solutions.He authored and presented numerous scientific papers and technical reports on sediment transport and loading, dam removal, rare species assessments, and river and stream water quality. John had been working on water quality improvement projects, and was president of the Octoraro Watershed Association and president-elect of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Water Resources Association when he became ill.

We wish to thank our incredible family, which includes our neighbors and friends near and afar for their outpouring of love and support throughout John's illness. You helped us find unexpected joy on this journey. We also express our deep gratitude to the many people at JMT, Ann Barshinger Cancer Institute, Lancaster General Health system, Hospice & Community Care, and Reynolds Funeral Home for their compassion and kindness.

A celebration of John's life will be held on Saturday, April 19 at 12:00 noon at Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church, 1068 Chestnut Level Road, Quarryville, PA with Rev. Dr. Michael Wilson presiding.The service will be preceded by a visitation from 10:30 to 12:00, and followed by a lunch gathering at the Chestnut Level Family Life Center across the street.

John's ashes will be privately interred at Chestnut Level Cemetery. His family will spread some later in cherished places.

Gifts in John's memory may be made to Hospice & Community Care, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA17604. www.hospiceandcommunitycare.org/ or to the Downstream Solutions Fund at the Lancaster County Community Foundation, 24 W. King St., Suite 201, Lancaster, PA17603. www.lancfound.org/fund/shuman-family-downstream-solutions-fund/.This fund celebrates John's life by supporting water quality projects on the ground within the tributaries of the Susquehanna, because clean water, shared, is a common good.Arrangements entrusted to Reynolds Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc. 144 East State Street, Quarryville, PA.To send an online note of condolence to the family, visit our website; www.reynoldsfuneralhome.net.