Joseph “Joe” Edward Buehler III, 59, of Mechanicsburg, PA, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, June 11, 2026, surrounded by family and friends.
Born in Phoenixville, PA, on May 4, 1967, Joe was the son of the late Linda Jo Hoover and Joseph Edward Buehler Jr. Joe was a lifelong sports enthusiast and was a football player at Lebanon Valley College. He graduated from Lebanon Valley College in 1989 and earned a master’s degree in Sport Management–Athletic Coaching from Millersville University.
Throughout his life, Joe was a dedicated teacher and coach. He coached countless teams in many different sports, including Palmyra High School Football, the Milton Hershey School (Football, Women’s Basketball, Baseball), Lebanon High School Football, Cedar Cliff 5th-6th Grade Boys Basketball, GoWags Rockhounds Baseball, Palmyra Youth Baseball, Lower Allen Baseball, and West Shore Baseball All-Stars.
Beginning in 2004, he worked as a football coach for the Flying Dutchmen at his alma mater, Lebanon Valley College. He later achieved the position of head coach in 2015, which he held until his retirement in 2023. After retiring, he continued to serve and support local high schools and youth sports programs with mentorship and coaching. In addition to LVC sports, Joe was a committed Philadelphia and Notre Dame sports fan, and could often be found watching the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, and Fighting Irish with his loved ones.
Joe is survived by his wife, Jennifer; children, Blake Buehler (fiancé, Jack Markowitz) and Jeb (wife, Lauren) Buehler; brothers, Jason Pappariella and Lewis (wife, Jennifer, and children, Kaylee and Drew) Pappariella; stepmother, Louise Buehler; and stepsister, Gwen (husband, Bill, and children, Alex and Josh) Martz. In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by a loving extended family, a large network of friends, and the hundreds of students and athletes whose lives he greatly impacted.
A memorial service will be held at Arnold Field at Lebanon Valley College on Friday, June 19, 2026, at 6 p.m. A visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until the time of his service at LVC. Casual attire is encouraged. Proudly represent Joe’s favorite teams: Lebanon Valley College, Notre Dame, Phillies, Eagles, Sixers, Milton Hershey gear, or any other team Joe has coached.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Lebanon Valley College Stadium Project in Joe’s memory. Checks can be mailed to Lebanon Valley College, Office of Advancement, 101 N. College Ave., Annville, PA, 17003: please write “Coach Buehler” on the memo line. Donations can be made online at lvc.edu/give: please include “Coach Buehler” in the requested information.
