Jack Richard Rotzien, 93, of Indianapolis, IN died January 19, 2018 in Greensburg, IN. He was born November 27, 1924, in Holmesville, IN to Irene (Garwood) and Dewey Rotzien. His parents, his beloved wife Helen Rotzien, his daughter Casey Margherio (Jim), his brother Tommy (Carol), and sister Barbara preceded him in death. His sister Dr. Mary Rotzien (Brian Buchanan), La Canada CA, daughters Chris Messer, Greensburg, IN and Dr. Andi Rotzien, Grand Rapids, MI, his grandsons Luke Messer (Jennifer), Rich Messer (Mandy) Greensburg, IN, Jason Margherio (Megan), Joshua Margherio (Andrea), and Justin Margherio (Sarah), St. Louis, MO survive him. Jack’s 10 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews will miss him.
Jack, a graduate of IU’s business school, was a rolling stone he moved over 12 times and lived in Indianapolis, New Orleans, Dallas, Euless, Lake Worth and Brownsburg. He had a number of careers including fashion merchandizing, sales, commercial fishing, and finally life insurance and education. He was a WWII veteran and served in the Army Air Force 392nd Bomb Group in Wendling, England. He volunteered to speak to elementary school children about patriotism and military service. He was a Mason, a member of American Legion post #331 and Phi Delta Kappa. He donated generously to any Republican running for office. He was a religious man who most recently attended Trinity Presbyterian in Brownsburg.
Jack will be remembered for his passion for conservative political ideology, Calvinism, fishing, photography (particularly windmills), Hoosier basketball, genealogy, and teaching. He was highly energetic and drawn to novelty and adventure. He loved to laugh and entertain. We believe his spark is renewed now that he has moved into the next chapter.
Per Jack’s request, services will be held in Westville, IN at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana https://www.crh.org/service-centers/hospice/donate or to the Fisher House https://www.fisherhouse.org
Patty Porter says
Thinking of you during this difficult time. It’s hard to lose a loved one. I enjoyed being around Jack, the few times that I saw him. He will be missed by many.
Patty Porter
Bonnie Garwood says
To you all, So sorry to hear about Jack . He was a fun loving and entertaining man. Fun to be around. Love Bonnie Garwood
Lisa and Greg Tigges says
Our deepest sympathy. May your wonderful memories of Jack – father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend – give you comfort and strength during this time. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Love to all.
Richard Szawara says
I had the pleasure of getting to know Jack through my mother, Alma Iseminger (Ebeling, Szawara), they had a Westville connection. My condolences to his family and all who knew him. A great guy, with a kind heart, that helped to energize my mother when she needed it most. I will always cherish the fond memories of excitement and joy Jack and my mother brought into each other’s lives.
Sarah Klosinski says
So sorry to hear of Uncle Jacks Passing, he was a great man and he will be missed greatly!!
Debbie Goar Beigh says
I am so sorry for your loss. He was a great friend of my dad’s, a comrade in the 392nd Bomb Group. My dad so enjoyed spending time at the reunions with him. I enjoyed getting to know him and his daughters when I began accompanying my dad. Blue skies, Jack.
Jazmine Cappa says
My condolences to your family. No doubt this is a tough time for you and the need for comfort is critical. The best place to find this comfort is God’s word, the Bible. At 1 Corinthians 15:26 it says, “And the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing.” This means that very soon God is going to put an end to death and we will no longer have to deal with the pain or loss anymore.
Kevin Flowers says
Jack set the bar on not slowing down no matter what. We had a lot of fun together at Trinity Church doing service projects and fellowship. He would go on canoe trips and pull you into fishing if he could. I loved hearing his stories. I was driving him up to Michigan on the “back roads of Indiana” that he knew, towing his boat so his son-in-law could sell it. I cannot remember the place, but as we were driving over a small hill he said, “this is where I heard on the radio, in the car I was in on a date, that Pearl Harbor had been bombed and we were going to war.” As a Navy Veteran myself…I really appreciated him. He was a fine Christian man and his humility was one to be followed, looking forward to seeing him again :-).
Beatrice Goldman says
At such a sad time, we still have from our loving heavenly Father a hope and a promise; “God will actually swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord will certainly wipe the tears from all faces.” (Isaiah 25:8) Our loving Creator has promised to end our grief permanently, when death is no longer. As the God and Father of tender mercies, He wants you to find comfort in Him through prayer. “Blessed be… the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations”. (2Corinthians 1:3, 4.)
Maggie Lehman says
Justin, Sarah, Josh, Andrea, Jason, Megan, Jim, and Becky, I am so sorry to hear of Jack’s passing. Thinking of you during this time, and sending each of you love. May he rest in peace with the angels.
James R. Jones, American Legion Post 331 says
Jack was an avid participant in the “Flags for 1st Graders” program. We traveled to all of the elementary schools in Hendricks County. There were usually four veterans presenting the 30 minute program. Jack became one of the kids when he was in front of a group. It was great to see this tall, lanky guy bending down to high five each 1st grader as they exited the auditorium. The world was a little better place while Jack was here.
JOHN GILBERT says
So sorry for your loss I have only just heard from Bob Books that Jack had passed away on January 19th. I have known Jack for many years. I remember Jack at the reunion his little adventure at Wendling Base to bike with his friends to Fakenham for a nice quite weekend and he met up with some nice people there at the church and they invited them to there homes for a meal, they stayed for a weekend at a Hotel or Pub which they thoroughly enjoyed, After Jack told me this I then followed his trail from the base to Fakenham in my car and got intouch with my friend Gus who lives in Fakenham who photographed the places that he had visited, Sadly he could not find the people Jack had been with, But it was some bike ride Jack had that Weekend. He will be greatly missed his Birthday was on the same day as mine 27th November, I was a boy on the base during the war between 1943-45.
We always talked about those times.
Once again my Condolences to you all, Blue Skies Jack,
John Gilbert 392nd BGMA