Jack Fowler

Jack Wayne Fowler passed away on October 20, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.

Jack loved his family. He loved his pool. And he especially loved when his family would use his pool. On any hot summer day, you could find him in his backyard, tending a grill stocked with well-done hamburgers as his children and grandchildren executed cannonballs into his gorgeous in-ground pool. That pool was always filled with crystal-clear water. The perfect water was no accident. Jack was a man who loved the details. Keeping the water just right, ready whenever his family arrived for a spontaneous summer pool party, was exactly the kind of detail he loved.

Jack was born on July 21, 1930, in Hammond, Indiana, to Gretchen and Garland Fowler. He graduated from Hammond High School. After high school, Jack enlisted in the Air Force. Well, not immediately after high school. He first took a detour to Florida with his two best friends, playing and coaching basketball. Once their money ran out, he returned home and enlisted in the Air Force.

Jack served in the Air Force for four years. While in the Air Force, he spent time in Greenland, met his lifelong best friend John “Mac” MacIntyre, and was stationed across the US, including Arizona. As he moved across the country and world, he courted Patricia LaBounty, and they eventually married on December 18, 1954. Patricia would join him in Arizona as he finished his Air Force career. Around this time, Jack’s sister Judy also came to visit. During Judy’s visit, Jack, with the encouragement of his parents, put together a poorly concealed plot to set Judy up with Jack’s immediate supervisor, John Phillips. After some resistance from Judy, Judy and John eventually started communicating regularly. A short time later, Judy married John.

After his Air Force service, Jack and Pat returned to Indiana. Jack began working at Inland Steel. While Jack worked at the mill, Jack and Patricia had their first three children: Becky, Jack, and Jill. Inland was steady work–the kind of steady work that made a comfortable life almost guaranteed.

But Jack was looking for a bigger opportunity and a new challenge. So, in 1967, Jack left his position at the mill to work as comptroller at Dixie Dairy in Gary, Indiana. Shortly after joining Dixie Dairy, Jack and Patricia had Kurt and Joni. Their bustling family of five children was complete.

Jack’s bet on Dixie Dairy paid off. It is probably more accurate to say that Dixie Dairy’s bet on Jack paid off. The company grew, in large part thanks to Jack. Jack and Patricia would move their family to a larger home on Parrish Place in 1972. His in-ground pool was installed in 1979. Jack and Patricia would live at Parrish Place until 2012, hosting countless family gatherings, holidays, and summer cookouts. Jack worked at Dixie Dairy for 28 years until he retired in 1995.

Jack loved everything about his family, but he especially liked to watch his grandchildren and great-grandchildren play sports. He was a fixture in the stands, donning a different baseball hat from his seemingly endless collection, and happily cheering on every game, match, and meet.

Jack loved sports. He was an avid golfer. Even as he grew older and his knees creaked, his back hurt, and his shoulders ached, he played nearly every week for as long as he could. And often far too late into the winter or entirely too early in the spring. He was an accomplished golfer, with two holes-in-one over his career.

Jack was also an expert fisherman. Muskies were his favorite, but he would also pursue perch and walleye. Jack especially loved to go fishing with his children and grandchildren. In those hours on the lake, Jack would regale the boat with fishing advice, life stories, and assurances that even if the fish weren’t biting, “the worst day on the lake was better than the best day at the office.” When he wasn’t golfing or fishing, Jack loved to cheer on Indiana basketball.

Jack also served his community. He served as president of his Kiwanis club and was a member at Suncrest Church.

Jack and Pat would be married for nearly 72 years. Jack lived for Pat. Pat lived for Jack. They were the model of love, faithfulness, and affection. They loved to travel together and dote on their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Eventually, Pat’s memory would begin to fail. And her health would fade. But Jack’s love for Pat only grew. As Pat became more dependent on Jack, Jack increasingly focused on making sure she was receiving the best care. And even as Jack’s own health began to fail, he remained focused on Pat. One of the last phone calls Jack ever placed was to make sure Pat was safe.

Throughout those years, Jack and Pat filled their home with love. While at Parrish Place, they would host their family for a large gathering every Christmas Eve. As everyone arrived, the main level was warm, smelling of ham and the world-famous party potatoes. As dinner ended, Jack and Patricia would gather their grandchildren at large windows at the front of the house. The group scanned the sky looking for evidence that Santa’s sleigh had flown over the house. After the sleigh was spotted, one of the grandchildren would excitedly ring the bell, and the family would retreat downstairs to open gifts.

For what seemed like hours, Jack’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren would tear open a mountain of presents. Conversation, laughter, and shrieks of joy would fill the room.

In the midst of all the chaos, Jack would sit at the front of the room. Lounging in his comfortable recliner, he would have a smile on his face, looking over his loving and beautiful family.

Jack is survived by his wife Patricia (LaBounty) Fowler; his sisters Judy (Fowler) Phillips and Anita (Fowler) Agerter; his children Becky (Karl) Grimmer, Jack (Sue) Fowler, Jill (Jim) Christenson, Kurt (Chris) Fowler, and Joni (Kevin) Prendergast; 13 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers-in-law John Phillips, John Agerter, Gerald and Gordon LaBounty; and his granddaughter Kaitlyn Fowler.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association (Alzheimer's Association ).