Jack L. Harris

Jack L. Harris rounded third and headed for home on October 17, 2025, to join his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was born August 28, 1929, in Cleveland, Ohio, to parents, Jane Hockman Harris of Frankfort, IN, and Jack Easton Harris of Washington, IN. His wife and “Sunshine Girl,” Juanita, preceded him in death on April 11, 2022. Their daughter Sandi Rice also preceded them in death on Oct. 21, 2016. Jack is survived by his sons, Thomas Gary (Diane) Harris of Ypsilanti, MI, and Gregory Ross (Carol) Harris of Plainfield, IN; three grandchildren, Kelly Marie (Dominic) Sartino, Ross Jackson (Courtney) Harris, and Mindy Lynn Harris; and eight great-grandchildren, Sofia, Aiden, Vince, Alijah, Leo, Jackson, Ashton, and Anthony.

Jack was a 1947 graduate of Shortridge High School, where he played on the first-ever Shortridge baseball team. He attended Indiana University and graduated in February 1952. He was initiated into Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, where he served on the kitchen crew throughout his time in school. He was Rush Chairman his junior year and was also initiated into the sophomore honorary Skull and Crescent and the junior honorary Falcon Club. Jack played baseball his freshman year and was awarded freshman numerals. A hand injury ended his baseball career at IU. It was at the Beta House that he was tagged with the nickname “Lunchbox,” which stood the test of time for all these years.

He realized a lifetime dream when he attended a New York Yankee Fantasy Camp in 2000, just after they won the World Series. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, having enlisted during the Korean conflict. Although never deployed, he served faithfully at Air Bases stateside.

Jack was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church and a member of Zionsville Presbyterian Church. Both he and Juanita were also members of the Zionsville Great Banquet Community. He was truly proud of the many mission trips he and Juanita took to Romania and of the friendships they developed there.

Jack had many interesting experiences during his business career. Early on, he was a credit manager for the largest Goodyear Tire dealer on the West Coast - Daniel Tire Co. in Whittier, CA. He later joined the Zoller Chemical Co. in 1956 to help introduce the first disposable hypodermic syringe. He was the first sales representative to make calls east of the Mississippi River and had many Indiana hospitals as clients, including Indiana University Hospital. He enjoyed introducing disposable syringes to the medical field.

At a hospital convention in Chicago, he was approached by V. Mueller & Co., a leader in surgical instrument distribution. When the University of Florida opened its new medical school, it quickly became his top client. After six months, his sales efforts with hospitals and surgeons led V. Mueller to open a branch office in Miami. True to corporate mentality, V. Mueller later reduced his sales territory, leading Jack to join his father in the hospitality industry in Cocoa Beach, FL. He soon became General Manager of the Polaris Motel. Jack was a charter member and VP of the Optimist Club and President of the Cocoa Beach Motel Association.

In 1962, NASA sent Juanita Reynolds to Cape Kennedy to work protocol on a space capsule launch, and became a guest at the Polaris Motel that his life changed forever.

Jack and Juanita were married in August 1963, and he soon adopted her three children. After three years in Cocoa Beach, they moved to Indianapolis. The opportunity that brought them to Indiana lasted only seven weeks, as the company was sold and relocated.

Juanita proved to be the iron will and heart and soul of the family as Jack sought new employment opportunities. He started an equipment leasing and financing company, working primarily with agricultural clients and leasing everything from tractors and combines to hog buildings. When the prime rate rose to 18%, lenders lost interest in assisting farmers.

After several unsuccessful ventures, Jack entered the then-new field of merchant services, providing credit card processing for merchants in Indianapolis and surrounding areas. He processed for three banks and built a merchant portfolio of over 450 accounts. Jack sold his business in 2021 after 34 successful years.

His faith and love of country led him to join Pastor Phil Ping in forming AMERICAN PATRIOTS FOR GOD AND COUNTRY, INC., a non-for-profit created in April 2020 for the sole purpose of honoring service members, first responders, and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. He worked tirelessly to serve and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this Nation and their communities. Their mission is to affirm and maintain America as a Christian Nation and to Make America Patriotic Again! They believe it is in the best interest of our Constitutional Republic for the American public to experience a “Great Awakening” - to wake up, stand up, and speak up about the issues that confront our country. Without that, we may not only witness but become party to the demise of our Republic.

When the decision was made to design a flag that exemplified faith and patriotism, it took several designs before arriving at the third and final one. Jack stated that the project was God-originated and Holy Spirit-inspired, and the motto “Born Free - Live Free - Die Free” was credited to that inspiration.

Their first project while launching the APFGAC flag was to attend a convention of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, where Jack and Juanita presented every living recipient with a navy cap embroidered with “For God and Country” on the front and “Duty - Honor - Country” on the back.

They continued to honor newly inducted members who served above and beyond the call of duty. To date, AMERICAN PATRIOTS FOR GOD AND COUNTRY has sent out flags to pay respects to nearly 200 fallen police, fire, first responder, and military service members.

A Memorial Service will be held at Zionsville Presbyterian Church on November 21st at 11:00 a.m., with a military burial immediately following at Crown Hill National Cemetery Annex.

Arrangements entrusted to Aaron Ruben Nelson Funeral Home.