John Mckenzie

John McKenzie, 79, of Indianapolis passed away peacefully at home after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia on  September 27, 2022.  John was born November 3, 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio to the late Wilbur McKenzie and Hilda Evelslage McKenzie. He was one of five children.  His sisters, Carol (Gil) Born, Maryanne (Tom/deceased) Drahman, Judy (Ron) Reganhold and brother Jim (Betsy) McKenzie all survive him.   John graduated from Roger Bacon High School in 1960 and joined the Navy with special permission from his mother as he was still 17 at the time.  After leaving the Navy, John earned an electrical engineering degree from Ohio College of Applied Science and began his first job at Arvin in Columbus, IN.

He married his first love, Marilyn Rose Kathman on April 23, 1966.  After 23 years and four children, Marilyn preceded him in death in 1988.  Luckily, he found love again and married Mary Rager in 1991 and four more children were added to a loving home.

John was a devoted husband and loving father of eight: Heather McKenzie, Meredith (Tom) Beck, Josh Horrigan, Blythe (Cameron) Sparks, Kathryn Horrigan, Jonathan McKenzie, Daniel (Brooklyn) McKenzie and Michael McKenzie.  John also enjoyed spending time with his 20 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

John was a long-time member of St. Monica Catholic Church and has been a member since 1976 when the family moved to Indianapolis.  He was an usher until his diagnosis with Lewy Body Dementia.

While John began his professional life as an electrical engineer, he quickly moved into electronic component sales for Paul Smith in Cincinnati, OH, Valentine & Associates in Greenwood, IN and eventually owned his own company, McKenzie & Associates in Kokomo, IN.

In life, John was funny, kind-hearted, and intelligent with a distinctive sense of humor.  After retirement, John developed his hobby in woodworking and built furniture.  He could build or fix anything and did – for everyone, all the time – family, friends and neighbors.  He was always there to lend a hand to anyone in need.  He was wise and honest with great integrity and faith.  John leaves behind hundreds of friends and extended family members and will be greatly missed.

Visitation is Tuesday, October 4, 2022  from 4:00 – 8:00pm at Flanner & Buchanan 2706 Kessler Blvd. W. Dr., Indianapolis, IN  46228.  A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at 11:30am at St. Monica Catholic Church, 6161 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, IN 46228 with burial following at Washington Park North, 2706 Kessler Blvd. W. Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46228.  Donations may be made in John’s memory to The Dementia Society of America at DementiaSociety.org

To view the livestream:

Go to St. Monica’s Facebook page: Facebook.com/saintmonicaindy/
Click “Live” on the toolbar at the top
Click the top left image. It will go live when Mass begins.