John Andrew Takach

John Andrew Takach, 75, of Carmel, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on May 10, 2022 following a five year battle with Burkitt’s Lymphoma.  He was born April 30, 1947 in Middletown, Ohio to the late Mary Margaret (Domanich) Takach and John Thomas Takach. 

John attended Bishop Fenwick High School in Middletown, Ohio before attending Marian College in Indianapolis where he pursued a BS in Mathematics.  While at Marian he met the love of his life and wife of nearly 53 years, Eileen (Butkus) Takach.  They were married June 7, 1969 just after John’s graduation.  He went on to obtain a MA in Education Supervision from Ball State University.

John was a beloved middle school math teacher for over 40 years teaching at IPS schools 53, 21 and 98, John Marshall Middle School, Shortridge Middle School and briefly at Arlington High School and Lincoln High School in Detroit, MI.  He exuded a fatherly presence of unconditional love and deep respect for each of his students, always seeking creative ways to reach those with particular challenges or difficulties wanting them to recognize their own dignity and goodness.  Others said that he made everyone around him “better people”.  Often on trips to the mall or at the drive-through of fast food restaurants former students would spot him and eagerly greet “Mr. T” who many called their favorite teacher and who remembered him many years and even decades later. 

John’s personal interests and hobbies were many and varied throughout life from stained glass window-making to woodworking to, most-recently, acrylic painting.  His favorites were definitely golf, gardening and spending time with his beloved grandson and granddaughter.  Many of his neighbors say they “knew all was well with the world” when they saw him riding his bright orange lawn mower around the yard or chatting in the driveway with neighbors walking their dogs. 

John loved his wife and children unconditionally with deep thoughtfulness, unfailing generosity, selflessness, creativity and a playful sense of humor.  Eileen, John and Sr. Michela (Jennifer) are eternally grateful to have had a husband and father who is so very difficult to lose because of how well he loved each of them.

John is survived by his wife, Eileen (Butkus) Takach; children, John (Michelle) Takach and Sr. Maria Anne Michela (Jennifer) Takach, S.V.; grandchildren, Parker and Chloe Takach; sisters-in-law, Anita (Les) Philipp and LaVerne (Martin) Thompson; brother-in-law, Rick (Madeleine) Butkus and many cousins, extended family members, friends and former students.     

Visitation will take place Monday, May 16, 2022 from 5-7 pm in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 14658 Oak Ridge Rd, Carmel, IN, 46032.  There were will also be an hour of visitation beginning at 10 am Tuesday, May 17, 2022 followed by the Mass of Christian Burial.

John will be interred in Carmel Cemetery, which all are welcome to attend.

Please join us to remember John and celebrate his beautiful life!

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of Life (sistersoflife.org), 38 Montebello Rd, Suffern, NY 10901 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).

Bussell Family Funerals is privileged to serve and care for the Takach family.

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