In Memory
John Paul VanMele
October 19, 1942 ~ January 09, 2026 (age 83)
John Paul VanMele, 83, of Granger, Indiana passed away on Friday, January 9, 2026 surrounded by his family. He was born on October 19, 1942 in South Bend, Indiana to the late Joseph and Kathleen (Pinter) VanMele. On January 18, 1964 he married Janice Kathleen Cooper in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. John is survived by his wife Janice, one daughter, Andrea (Glenn) Howard of Elkhart, Indiana, one son, Jeffrey VanMele of Granger, Indiana and two grandchildren, Mackenzie Miller and Jase Braden. He was preceded in death by his son Daniel Vanmele and a brother, Richard VanMele.
John was a lifelong area resident. He was a 1960 graduate of Washington Clay High School and attended Indiana University. He started his career in finance, working for Household Finance and Freeman Spicer Finance & Leasing. He owned and operated a parts and tire store in Niles Michigan throughout most of the 1970’s until he started the Roseland Cartage Trucking company in 1979. He held a long membership with the South Bend Transportation club, serving a term as president and was honored in 1990 as their man of the year.
After he closed his business, he retired for a short time then went back to work often telling people that he “flunked retirement”. For several years he drove the blood-mobile for the South Bend Medical Foundation, a job he really enjoyed as he was able to interact with people and help provide a lifesaving service. He also worked for Gurley Leep until his full retirement in 2023.
John was an avid tennis player for many years, competing with his USTA team for a national title in 1996. When he was younger, he was involved in midget car racing and was a lifelong motor sports fan. He also liked to cheer for Notre Dame football and for the Chicago Bears. He and his friends loved to sail, spending many a summer weekend in South Haven. He loved traveling with his family and friends, making trips to many places including Ireland and Italy. He and Janice especially enjoyed going to Hawaii.
John was kindhearted and always had a smile to share. He enjoyed chatting with friends at his favorite watering hole or breakfast spot. If he didn’t know you, you were not a stranger for long. He loved to tell stories over a nice glass of Merlot.
He and Janice were married almost 62 years. He met her when he went home one day with his high school friend, her brother. He would always tell people he knew he was going to marry her the moment he saw her. John was a devoted father who modeled integrity and stressed the importance of family to his children and grandchildren. We will miss his stories, his laugh and his unwavering love and support.
No services are being held. Memorial contributions may be made in John’s honor to Luminary Hospice, 11708 N. College Ave., Suite 175, Carmel, IN 46032.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John P. VanMele, please visit our floral store.
Added 01/13/2026 1430 GMS
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