Dr. Carl J. Stewart

Bloomington - Dr. Carl J. Stewart passed away peacefully at Bloomington Hospital on April 8, 2015, with his children at his side. Carl was born on a farm in Monroe County in the Lake Monroe area on August 6, 1919, to George & Maude Stewart. He married Ruth Hall when his U.S. Navy ship was in port in Charleston, S.C., on Oct. 19, 1944. She preceded him in death in 2003. Surviving are his daughter, Jeana (Tom) Kapczynski of Ellettsville, and son, Daniel (Fran) Stewart of Bloomington, 4 grandchildren: Heidi Kapczynski (Gary) Deitche of Brownsburg, IN ; Eric (Tiffany) Kapczynski, of Columbus, IN; Kathryn Stewart (Adam) Grissom, of Indianapolis; and Hannah Stewart of Modesto, CA; 4 great-grandchildren: Kayla, Emilee, & Tyler Deitche, and Reese Kapczynski; and his beloved cat, Fluffy. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, brothers Clarence, Gilbert, William, Albert, Harold Stewart and sisters Lessa Ross and Bernice Phillips. Carl always told how he wore many hats in his long life. He earned Masters & Doctorate degrees at Indiana University and was an educator before and after WWII. As Deputy Superintendent of the Monroe County School System he coordinated the construction of the current Bloomington South High School. He went on to become Chancellor of Northwood University in West Baden, IN, in the historic "dome". During WWII, he served as an officer in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Ancon which was a flag ship at the Normandy Invasion on D-Day in 1944, and also at the Invasion of Okinawa in 1945. He was honored to talk with Senator Bob Dole at the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. on an Honor Flight in 2009. In 1955, he and his wife built the Starlite Drive-in Theatre south of Bloomington and owned it until 2002. In 1958, he was the Charter President of the Northside Exchange Club in Bloomington. He went on to become President of the Indiana Exchange Clubs and held offices in the National Exchange Club. He received the Kentucky Colonel Citation and Sagamore of the Wabash for his leadership in the merger of Indiana-Kentucky District Exchange Clubs in 1966. He was honored to give the Covenant of Service and sit at the head table with President Gerald Ford at a National Exchange Club Convention. While living in West Baden, he also was Charter President of the Springs Valley Exchange Club in 1968, and he and his wife were instrumental in starting the Orange County Pumpkin Festival which is still held each fall. In 2005, he was named a Berkey Fellow by the National Exchange Club. He remained a faithful member of Northside until his passing. He was honored by the local club with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his many contributions to Exchange. Carl & family also operated Stewart Real Estate in Bloomington in the 1970's. He was President of the Board of REALTORS and also the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Clear Creek Christian Church where he served as elder for many years. He was a devoted father and in 1962, he was named the Bloomington and Indiana "Father of the Year". In 1997, he was honored to be inducted into the Monroe County Hall of Fame. The funeral service will be Saturday, April 11, at 3:00 pm at Allen Funeral Home with Rev. Glenn Hughes officiating. Visitation will be Friday, April 10, from 3 - 7 pm and 2 - 3 pm Sat. prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Clear Creek Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to the Clear Creek Christian Church Building Fund (5405 S. Rogers St., Bloomington, IN 47403), or the Southern Indiana Exchange Clubs Foundation, Inc. (P.O. Box 1521, Bloomington, IN 47402). Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.allenfuneralhome.org. In an interview for the family in 2008, Carl was asked "What advice about life do you want others to remember?" He replied "Faith, Love, Hope - if you have faith that cures about everything. Hope keeps you from being in despair. Love - share what you have with others, but also be the recipient of love which is better because you receive that from others. I like for kids to be optimistic. When the Germans bombed buildings in WWII, the British put up a sign "keep up your faith - the sun will shine again". That has guided me most of my life."

Tributes

Dr. Carl J. Stewart

August 6, 1919 - April 8, 2015