John Robert Racop

John Robert Racop, age 84, Logansport, passed away peacefully in his sleep at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 16th, 2021, in his residence.

Born Tuesday, July 21st, 1936, in Vincennes Indiana, he was the son of Fay and Marie Racop.  He was raised in Flat Rock Heathsville, and Robinson, Illinois.

On February 3rd, 1962, he married Anna Ruth Bradley, who proceeded him in death in 2019.  They were divorced in 1972.

A 1958 graduate of Palestine High School in Palestine, Illinois.  He got his undergraduate degree from Manchester College, and his masters degree in school administration, and teachers special education at Indiana State University, with additional education at Purdue for his school superintendent and director of special education licenses.

Surviving are two children, Mark (Jill) Racop, Logansport, Indiana, and Scott (Sinwon) Racop of Terre Haute, Indiana; grandchildren, Grant Racop and Mackenzie Racop.

Also surviving is one sibling, Bernard Racop, Illinois; and nieces and nephews Susan Racop, Carol Waggoner, Ed Racop, Linda Smariga, Calvin Perry, Carmen Nigro, and Jana Kuric.

Preceding in death are brothers and sisters, Loretta Shirkey, Miriam Fisher, Mary Perry, and Paul Racop.

In 1963, John moved to Logansport to start Longcliff School at the Logansport State Hospital.  He created the curriculum, hired teachers, and was in charge of Title One, the federal education grant for the Logansport School Corporation for many years.  He also started GED testing in Logansport in the 1970s.

John was on the executive board at Camelot, and broke the ground for the construction of the Camelot building.  He was also president of the board when Woodlawn Center, now Peak Community, was built.

In addition to Camelot, he was the principal of Camelot School for ten years.  He was in charge of moving Camelot school to the State Hospital, then reopened Fairview West to move it there, then moved to Fairview proper, then Columbia.

After 27 years, the State Hospital closed the teenage unit.  Non hospital patients from Longcliff were moved to Longfellow School in December of 1989.  He was the last principal of Longfellow School, the last principal of Tipton School, and the first assistant principal at the brand new Landis Elementary.  He spent his last two years with the school corporation at Lincoln School in special education.

John took early retirement in 1995 after 37 years with the school system.  He did homebound special education tutoring with students for an additional five years.

John became a landlord in 1974, and owned many properties in the Logansport area that kept him busy literally until the day before he died.  He was always busy working on them, and often said, “If it’s not one thing, it’s another.”

In his childhood years, John was driving a tractor at age six in the tomato field.  He went to a one room school, Canaan School in 2nd grade.  Grades 1-8 went to this one room school.  

Sports were important to John.  He played as a center on the basketball court in his high school years, and scored 22 points in one game at Heathsville, a two room country school.  He was also a football player for all four years in high school, and became the co-captain of the football team.  He earned letters in Sophomore, Junior, and Senior year.

He was a handsome, athletic young man.  He was the high school prom king twice, and in college he was the either the prom king, or escort of the prom queen, two more times.

He started the Logansport chapter of Parents Without Partners in 1977, and attended dances in Logansport, Wabash, Marion, Kokomo, and Indianapolis.  He was an officer from the late 1980s until present day.  Often, he was president or treasurer, and he was the treasurer of the regional PWP for many years as well.

He was a boy scout leader for ten years.  He was also a volunteer fireman at Beatty Hospital for three years.

Throughout his life, even to the end, John kept a very strong faith.  He was baptized in a pond in southern Illinois, and regularly attended Yorktown Road Church of Christ in Logansport, Indiana.  John was generous to a fault, often loaning money to complete strangers.

He was very proud of his two sons, often telling people about Mark’s Batmobile business and Scott’s law firm.  He loaned money to help both with their businesses, and helped his grandson with college expenses.

He was a father to many children that weren’t biologically his.  He was an inspiration and father figure to many that frequently hung out at John’s house, the Magichouse.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Yorktown Road Church of Christ, 406 Yorktown Road, Logansport, IN 46947.

The visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 23, 2021, at the Yorktown Road Church of Christ, where the funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m

COVID restrictions will be fully observed. Masks and social distancing are required. Embracing and touching are discouraged. 

Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, following the service.

Memories or messages of condolence may be posted at www.kroegerfuneralhome.com.

The Racop family entrusted Kroeger Funeral Home, 711 East Market Street, Logansport, (574-722-6000) with the funeral arrangement details.

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