John Nicholas Wanchic

John Nicholas Wanchic, 63, passed away suddenly on Friday evening, January 26, 2024. He leaves his wife of 34 years, Cecilia Wanchic, and their four children, Nicholas (Annie), John, Sarah, and Michael; two beloved grandchildren, Vincent and Aurora; his sister, Nina; three brothers, Michael, Tom, and Mark; and special friends to his children, Shagnyne, Jake, Becca, George, and Kate. John traipsed over a lot of land here in Indiana and in the home of his young adulthood, Kentucky. Everywhere he went, he left lasting friendships and communities. To remember John, picture him: a riverboat captain, reading the water's surface to avoid the dangers below; perched in a blind, watching and waiting patiently for the right doe or buck to pass; walking while intently surveying a field to uncover artifacts of the people who were there before recorded history. See him bent under the hood of a car, meticulously checking every system to find the problem (and once forgetting a rag), or working diligently to maintain his favorite place, his home and the woods around it. Finally, remember him surrounded by friends and family, telling legendary stories and listening to the responses, smiling, laughing, touching your arm or putting his arm around your shoulder. Above all other things, John loved his wife and his family. His way of showing love, both to family and friends, was through acts of sharing and service. The bounty of his carefully tended garden, the maple syrup tapped from the trees on his property, the wild persimmons gathered from the woods, all were translated into signs of his desire to give. Abandoned animals also received his generosity. He was never without a cat or dog, or several, that he rescued and cared for. Even as his physical strength gradually failed him, he believed strongly in his role as a provider and worked to his utmost. He would work at a job or task until he was no longer able, but he never just quit. He always found another need to meet, another role to fill. John wasn't ready to leave us, and we were not ready for him to go. Among all the people that you meet, you will never see another quite like John. He lives on through his children in the gifts that he gave: commitment, persistence, and love. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, February 3, 2024, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church 2222 East Third Street at 10:00AM. Visitation will be held Friday, February 2, 2024 from 3:00PM to 7:00PM at Allen Funeral Home and Crematory 4155 South Old State Road 37. Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with family and friends at www.allencares.com

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John Nicholas Wanchic

June 24, 1960 - January 26, 2024