John Richard Nissley

John Richard Nissley, 79, of Bainbridge, Pennsylvania, passed away on January 30, 2026. John was born on November 27, 1946, to Jay Richard and Anna Ruth Weidler Nissley and grew up in Landisville, PA. The youngest of four children, his three older sisters Mary Lee, Judy, and Joyce cared for him in a way only older sisters do. He attended Avon Old Farms School and later Penn State University Main Campus majoring in Agronomy, where his lifelong connection to farming and stewardship of the land continued to take root. John was well known as one of the co-founders of Nissley Vineyards, where he tended the vines for more than 40 years. Many remember him out among the vines, hands weathered, working, always observing, always willing to share what he knew. He was proud to manage his corner of the business, build something profitable, and contribute to the family legacy in the way that he best could. Faith and community were central to John’s life. For over 30 years, he was a devoted and active member of Donegal Presbyterian Church, where he sang in the choir he cherished so deeply. His presence there was steady and sincere, much like John himself. On March 23, 1991, John married Melody Hoye Nissley. Over the course of their almost 35 years of marriage, they supported one another through quiet acts of service in the pursuit of creating a happy and whole life together. They enjoyed cooking together and shared an appreciation of the land where they made their home. He was a loving father to his son Jonas and the two worked closely together from the time Jonas was very young. John made sure to teach Jonas how to solve problems and pushed him to be a good, self-reliant man. He shared openly with Jonas the things that he felt were important in this life and had a profound impact on the course of Jonas’ life. He was a welcoming and nurturing father-in-law to Alyssa, and a proud Pawpaw to Sawyer and Jade, who brought him immeasurable joy. Time spent with his granddaughters made him very happy, and his eyes lit up whenever he spoke of them. He proudly showed pictures of them to anyone who would look. John was kind, thoughtful, generous, and extraordinarily hard-working. He was an avid outdoorsman and a world traveler. A veteran of the United States Army, John served during the Vietnam War. He repaired pocket watches, and collected coins, antiques and worthy treasures of all kinds. He was an expert BMW motorcycle mechanic and began Nissley Motor Company after years of traveling the country on his beloved R75. He loved talking about history and spending time laughing and sharing stories with friends and family throughout Lancaster County. “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story” was an expression he learned from his father and one he always took to heart. In recent years, he was happy tending his garden, and happiest when he was able to generously share the fruits of his labor with others. John is survived by his wife Melody; his son Jonas and daughter-in-law Alyssa; his cherished granddaughters Sawyer and Jade; and his sisters Judy and Joyce Nissley. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Mary Lee Nissley. A public Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 14, at 10:00 a.m., at Donegal Presbyterian Church in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. Flowers are appreciated but memorial contributions can be made to Donegal Presbyterian Church in his memory. John leaves behind a legacy rooted in faith, family, friendship, and the land where he felt most at home. His life was one of quiet impact, deep generosity, and enduring love—and he will be profoundly missed by all who knew him.

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John Richard Nissley

November 27, 1946 - January 30, 2026