John Charles Mackell

John Charles Mackell, March 3, 1926 – March 15, 2022.

John died peacefully, surrounded by family, after a short illness. The oldest of Henry and Loretta Mackell’s three children, John attended St. Philip’s grade school and graduated from Cathedral High School, class of 1944. After graduation, John enlisted in the Army Air Corps during the final years of World War II. He was qualified as “Combat Air Crew” and specialized in aerial photography for the B-29 Superfortress. After the war, John was Honorably Discharged with the rank of Sergeant and went on to attend Butler University. His time in the Air Corps inspired a lifelong love of photography, a gift he shared with his family his entire life. Eventually photography led him to a forty-year career in lithography beginning at Allied Printing Company in Indianapolis. He retired from Bredensteiner & Associates Printing Company in November of 1988.

John was extremely proud of his Irish heritage and enjoyed studying genealogy and being a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and American Legion. His greatest pride was his family, and he was a devoted and cherished husband, father, grandfather, and Pal. John married Rosemary Gasper on June 23, 1951, at St. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral, and they were blessed with five children: Thomas Mackell (Carolyn), Paul Mackell (Liz), Ann Wellington (Al), Joseph Mackell (Candee), and Kathleen Taylor (Greg). He was later blessed with seven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at the O’Riley Branson Funeral Service and Crematory at 6107 South East Street, Indianapolis 46227. The viewing will be from 4 PM to 8 PM on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at the funeral home. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Barnabas on Friday, March 18, 2022, at 11 AM, located at 8300 Rhake Road, Indianapolis 46217. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery.

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