John “Johnny” Michael Findley, 89, of West Lafayette, died Friday, March 15, 2024, at Bickford Senior Living in Crawfordsville. Visitation with the family will be held from 1:00 pm until time of a short memorial service and blessing at 3:00 pm, Thursday, April 4, 2024, at Soller-Baker, Lafayette Chapel, 400 Twyckenham Blvd., Lafayette, IN 47909.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation at

https://secure3.convio.net/prkorg/site/Donation2?10243.donation=form1&df_id=10243&mfc_pref=T&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google_AlwaysOn_Brand&utm_term=parkinson%27s%20foundation&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqdqvBhCPARIsANrmZhPCP7TwDYeYvcjaKx3UnI8b9uvZDdn1MTOpKessv5prWmqIkT1Sb2YaAkobEALw_wcB

or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at

https://www.stjude.org/promotion/impact-giving-pm.html?sc_dcm=58700008005633531&sc_cid=kwp&sc_cat=b&&&&&ds_rl=1285465&ds_rl=1291300&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhtWvBhD9ARIsAOP0GogRWSGr0gBPM4HYE2L5KwBAOgOtSP5UO3GbWd7gWs2x-Y7zahekd70aAp-4EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds.

John was born July 7, 1934, to Okal and Jesse (Mott) Findley and was one of 12 children. He graduated from Concannon High School in West Terre Haute and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in agriculture at Purdue University and a master’s in education at Purdue University. While serving in the US Army, he met Lois Jean Hartranft, and they married in December 1954, shortly after leaving the Army. He worked for the Indiana Department of Agriculture for a few years before beginning his teaching career, teaching elementary school for nearly 37 years, before retiring in 1992. He and wife, Lois, also operated a bed and breakfast on Mackinac Island for many years and, after retiring a second time, traveled the world on various cruises. He also enjoyed hunting, camping, fishing, mushroom hunting, and was an avid woodworking enthusiast, building and restoring furniture. John had a love of music that lasted his entire life and won the Indiana State Square Dance Calling Contest in 1952.

John was active and a lifetime member of the National Education Association, the Indiana State Teachers Association, the Benton County Teachers Association, the VFW, and the Disabled Veterans Association.

John is survived by his wife, Lois, of nearly 70 years, his six children, Greg, Bridget, Lynn, Shawn, Brian, and Colin, and their spouses, his beloved nephew Mike and spouse, 17 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Rosie Meehan, of St. Mary of the Woods, IN, brother Jim Findley of Grand Rapids, MI, sister Jane Frazier of West Terre Haute, IN, and sister Nancy Fitzgerald of Irvine, CA. He is preceded in death by seven siblings and his parents.