Submitted by: Dan Rich

John H. Stoeckinger

Mar. 1, 1926 – Dec. 16. 2006

The Indianapolis Star 12/18/2006

INDIANAPOLIS - John H. Stoeckinger, 80, passed away Saturday, December 16, 2006 following a short battle with liver cancer. John was born on March 1, 1926 in Mishawaka, Indiana to Franz X. and Mabel (Irion) Stoeckinger. He married Peggy Knoy on August 18, 1951. She passed away February 14, 1987.

John graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1944 and Indiana State Teacher's College in 1949. Later John would earn his master's degree from Indiana State University. John enlisted in the Navy and served from 1944-1953. He became a science and math teacher in his early career at Lapaz High School and LaFontaine High School. He later relocated in the Indianapolis area where he taught mathematics for the Indianapolis Public Schools at Arsenal Technical High School and Crispus Attucks High School, serving as teacher and math department chair. Later in his career he taught at Carmel High School where he again was the math department chair. John was committed to finding ways to help students learn math. He was involved in writing math curriculum during his days at IPS. He would later write math books for Merrill Mathematics. John served as an author for Merrill Mathematics from the 1970's through the 1990's. During these years, John would make presentations at educational conferences.

His math books are presently used as part of the Calvert School. An accomplished teacher, John was recognized as a Semifinalist in Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching by the Indiana Department of Education in October of 1984. He retired from Carmel High School in 1987. In that year he was recognized by the Indiana Council of Teachers of Mathematics and given the retiring teacher award "for his outstanding contributions to mathematics education in Indiana." John was a member of St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church and Indiana State Retired Teachers' Association.

Survivors include a daughter, Joan (Kelly) Maxfield; a sister, Rita (Victor) Johnson of Evansville; grandchildren Sarah Maxfield Tooley, Megan Maxfield Bradshaw, Stephanie Chalko, and Andrew Chalko; great-grandson expected in January; many nieces and nephews and special friend, MaryAnn Wagner. John was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Peggy, daughter Barbara Chalko, sister Katherine Gladden, and brothers Karl, Gerald, Robert and Richard Stoeckinger.

Friends may call from 4 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 19th at Flanner & Buchannan Funeral Center - Carmel, with a rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. A celebration Mass will be on Wednesday at 10:30 am at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Carmel. Entombment will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Carmel Educational Foundation for a scholarship in his name or to St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church.