Jack Harry McNew was born on May 4, 1929, the youngest of three children by Harry I. and Anna M. (Phelps) McNew in Henry County, Indiana.  He was raised on a farm near Knightstown, Indiana, enjoying all kinds of animals and spending a lot of time on a Farmall tractor seat.  Jack attended the schools in Knightstown and played in the gymnasium used in the movie “Hoosiers.”  He played basketball, baseball, and track events.

He graduated in 1948 and worked at a variety of jobs:  farming, the Chrysler plant in New Castle, and different GM plants in Anderson and Muncie.

He attended classes at General Motors Institute (GMI) in Flint, Michigan, enrolled at Ball State Teachers College (BSTC), and attended classes at the Sorbonne University of Paris, France.

Jack married Andrea L. Emmons in 1953 and had two children, Jacques A. and Lucile A.

While at BSTC, Jack was a member of Kappa Sigma Kappa Fraternity, Air Force ROTC, Arnold Air Society, Pershing Rifles Drill Team, Blue Key, Social Science Club, Foreign Language Club, Pi Gamma Mu, and Who’s Who.

After graduating in 1954, he served in the U.S. Air Force with the National Security Agency (NSA) in Washington, D.C. 

He returned to teaching at the Muncie Community Schools (MCS) at Sutton and Blaine Elementary Schools and as principal at Blaine, Franklin, and Wilson schools, ending his educational career in supervisory positions in the M.C.S. 

Jack married Melva (Mel) J. Gruber from Ft Wayne, Indiana, in 1972.  They enjoyed traveling, dancing, and working together at Annie’s Arbor Flower Shoppe until her passing on July 19, 2011.

He had been a past member of Moose #33, FOE #3164 and #231, Muncie Chamber of Commerce, AmVets, Sertoma, Civic Theater, Minnetrista, National Education Association (NEA), Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA), National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), and American Legion.

Jack retired from the MCS in 1989 after thirty-five years and from the USAF and the Indiana Air National Guard (IANG) in 1982 after twenty-eight years, the latter as Lt. Col. Commander of CAMRON Sq. of 122nd Tac Ftr Wg. Ft Wayne, Indiana.

Jack enjoyed bowling and watching all types of athletic events, such as the NBA, NFL, college, and high school sports.  He travelled extensively over the years, including such destinations as Canada, France, Switzerland, Alaska, Germany, Hawaii, and several other states, as well as the Caribbean area.  He was also a collector of paper weights, old mechanical banks, and knives, to mention a few (the unusual).

Jack is survived by his stepchildren, Randall Gruber and Cindy Hayes (Kevin), as well as several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a long-time close friend, Barbara Palmer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Kathleen J. Atkinson (Edwin), a brother, William McNew, wives Andrea L. (Emmons) and Melva J (Swaidner),  and many long-time friends.

Visitation will be held at Parson Mortuary on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.  Burial will take place at a later date at Gardens of Memory, north of Muncie.

As the former newscaster, Walter Cronkite would say… “AND THAT’S THE WAY IT IS!!!”