In Memory of 3rd-Degree Black Belt Jen Wetzel

By Rochelle E. Brenner

It is with a heavy heart that we report that third-degree black belt, Dr. Jennifer Wetzel, has died at the age of 50.

She died Saturday morning at home with her family after suffering from the catastrophic diagnosis of glioblastoma in December 2023. Glioblastoma is a malicious, aggressive form of brain cancer with a survival rate of 6 months to 2 years. She made it 15 months.

Even after her diagnosis, her strength at the karate school endured. She barely missed a week of classes for a year as she juggled doctor appointments, even though it meant moving slower and at times carrying an attached treatment case onto the mat with her. When she had setbacks or seizures, she would get released from the hospital only to pop up at the Black Belt pre-test to help the next class of candidates with keen insights and feedback. Then she would stay late for arnis sticks class taught by her husband that night.

She also received massive support from her karate family over the last year and a half. Action families raised money, dropped off meals, sat at her bedside, prayed with her, cared for her pet cat Peanut and assisted her husband and teenage kids. Action Karate ran a 5k for her benefit and came together to support her successful effort to rank up from second to third degree black belt in April 2024, 4 months after her diagnosis.

She was featured in local news stories as a hometown hero and proudly lived to see her daughter’s high school graduation, her son getting certified to teach ninja classes, her daughter’s senior black belt, her son’s lead in the school play, her daughter getting a driver’s license, her husband’s third-degree black belt test and her son’s second-degree test. Nine hours before she passed, her son came home jubilant from his junior prom. They are an incredible family.

All the while, she quietly coped with her quick decline.

She attended class twice a week through November, then once a week, then took her last class in January. She went from getting up the stairs with assistance, to living on the first floor of the house, to being bed-ridden, to breathing but barely responsive.

Her husband, Tim Wetzel, went from being the full time head instructor at Action Mt. Airy to part-time, to coming in for the advanced and sticks classes for enjoyment and stress relief, while he took on the daunting role of full-time caretaker. Their kids, Tyler and Kathryn, continue to go to school, train, work and advance in martial arts.

Tim and Jen took their final vacations together: a train ride in Canada as a couple and a family beach trip to Florida.

As a woman of strong faith, Jen always assured friends and family that she would soon be with Jesus. A service will be held at her church, Spirit and Truth Fellowship, in the coming weeks.

Prior to her diagnosis, Jen was a physician working in family practice and pediatrics.

In an unusual move that’s a tribute to her medical career, Jen donated her body to medical research. As a result, there will be no burial or cremation. Rather, medical students will be able to further their knowledge the same way past donors helped her.

. We will post any further updates from her family as they request, and they read this prior to sending it out.

Here is the article about her diagnosis: An Update on the Wetzel Family