John L. “Jack” Reichard, 94, of Waynesville, North Carolina, formerly a 36-year resident of Crawfordsville, passed away peacefully Nov. 19, 2024.
He was born May 22, 1930, in Crawfordsville, and attended Crawfordsville High School where he graduated in 1948. He enlisted in the Indiana National Guard-Artillery Division. He later joined the U.S.Army Reserves where he served several years until his honorable discharge in 1971.
Jack married his first love Dorothy (Childers) in 1949 and they loved and raised four children until her untimely death in 1983. Jack married his second love, Irene (Opella) Reichard in 1986.
Jack worked 30 years in paper & publishing, for RR Donnelly & Sons, Harper & Row, CD Stampley and Steck-Vaughn. He loved playing golf, playing well into his 80’s. He loved his Chicago Cubs and was thrilled when the Cubs finally, won the World Series in 2016 when he was 86 years old. He was an excellent dancer and at Byron Cox Post-72, members may remember Jack and Dorothy were often the last ones on the dance floor. Jack lived 30 years in Crawfordsville, several years in Glenview, Illinois, and Charlotte, North Carolina and 30 years in Cedar Park, Texas, moving to Waynesville, North Carolina in 2015.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Keith and Gertrude (Watkins) Reichard of Crawfordsville; and his wife, Dorothy (Childers) Reichard.
He is survived by his sister, Nancy (Reichard) Feaster; his wife, Irene (Opella) Reichard; and his children, Teresa (Reichard) and Douglas “Duke” DeLano, John and Alice (Pleasants) Reichard, Elizabeth (Reichard) and Allen Pier and Joseph and Teresa (Shaw) Reichard. He had eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
There will be a celebration of life 2-5 p.m. Jan. 4, 2025 at the Waynesville American Legion-Post 47.