John Thomas Chase

John Chase, 47, of Carmel, Indiana passed away peacefully on May 22, 2025, after a hard-fought battle with colon cancer.
John was born on June 5, 1977, and lived his life with an enthusiasm that touched everyone around him. Known to many as "Turkey" or "Turk," John was the life of any party. His great laugh and caring spirit made him not just a wonderful husband and father, but the kind of person who made you want to pull up a chair and have a conversation with him over a cold beer.
For 17 years, John dedicated himself to his career at Corteva Agriscience. His love for the art of difficult negotiation-a skill he successfully passed on to his kids, much to the chagrin of his wife-made him both loved and respected by his colleagues. He often said "spice it up" when it came to drinks, fun, and life in general-a philosophy he lived by.
John was an avid sports fan, always cheering for his Cleveland Guardians while listening to Tom Hamilton call the games on the radio. Recently, thanks to his daughter Norah, he discovered a new love for the NHL. The family of four traveled together to watch the Vancouver Canucks play in Minnesota, St. Louis, and Boston this past year. John could often be found playing knockout basketball and showing off his impressive jump shot. He was "Mr. Fix-It" around the house and had a love for Excel spreadsheets that brought him genuine joy.
John had a passion for the beautiful outdoors and agriculture, and he loved sharing that joy with others, especially taking his kids, nieces, and nephews with rides on the tractor. A big kid at heart, he also got a kick out of letting them drive his truck and ride in the back, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
One of his most-recent accomplishments was restoring his 1985 Honda ATC-200X three-wheeler, which he would ride around in full Ohio State gear with a big smile on his face. Whether he was cutting down a 20-foot fir from the yard to bring inside as a Christmas tree or being a proud sports dad, John approached life with enthusiasm and love.
Above all, John was devoted to his family-the best human being possible-and deeply loved by all who knew him.
John is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, Melissa (Rittenour) Chase, and their two children, Norah (16) and Parker (14). He is also survived by his parents, Jerry and Judith (Hostettler) Chase, his brother Brad (Jill) Chase, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members who will forever cherish their memories of John.
Services: A celebration of John's life will be held at Meridian Street United Methodist Church (5500 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis) on Friday, June 6th, 2025. Visitation will be from 1-3 pm, followed by the service beginning at 3 pm.
A graveside service and burial will take place at 1 pm on Saturday, June 14th, 2025, at Poplar Ridge Cemetery (9 Adams Ridge Road) in Defiance, Ohio.
All friends and family are warmly welcome to attend either or both services.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Meridian Street United Methodist Church in John's honor. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of John, please visit our Tree Store.