Jack H. Likens

Jack H. Likens, 97, of Evansville, Indiana, passed away on Friday, December 12. He was a devoted husband to Rose, father to four beautiful daughters, and a Navy veteran. Jack enjoyed fishing, hunting, and relaxing/working at their Lynnville Lake cabin, regularly hosting fish fries and cookouts, and spending time with family. Jack also loved to tell stories (and jokes), often the same ones, but they were always enjoyable. Jack loved to play Clabber, which he was very good at and could quickly add up the card score in his head without a cheat sheet. He also very much enjoyed playing with their household dogs, most recently, “Tiny”. Don Boerner was Jack’s closest friend and sporting companion.

Jack was born on April 20, 1928, in Evansville to Walter Likens and Juanita Whitmer. Jack graduated from Central High School during which he started working for WT Grant’s, doing just about every job on the floor. At age 22, Jack then found the love of his life, Rose Schnell, and married on July 29, 1950.

Jack began working at International Steel after his marriage, but duty called and Jack enlisted into the Navy. Jack served four years during the Korean War from 1951 to 1955, stationed originally in Stockton, California as a bartender and then in Hawaii as a radar technician, after getting his radar training in San Francisco. In Hawaii, Jack was assigned to the USS Monroe, Destroyer Escort, serving in Guam, China and Korea. After serving in the Navy, Jack returned to his job at International Steel to work in the computer department, after receiving company training in Chicago. Jack worked there for 23 years until they closed. He then started working for Creasy Food Distributors and eventually became computer department manager until they closed. Jack then began working at TJ Maxx in the warehouse and stayed there for 23 years until he officially retired in 2008.

Jack and Rose’s first home together was a one-room attic apartment over a church, often hearing lots of hallelujahs during Wednesday night gatherings. They moved a couple of times before finding their “forever” home on Parker Drive in 1964. Jack and Rose were almost always together. A true love story. They had four daughters and one son, Jack Jr., who survived only 3 days. The family all came together this past summer for a special 75-year anniversary celebration. He was a long-time member of St. John’s UCC Evansville until they closed and was a member of the Drum and Bugle Corp at the Hadi Shrine.

Jack is survived by his wife of 75 years, Rose; sister, Carol Feder (Bob); daughters, Sandra Notter (Randall), Rhonda Forney (Kevin), Connie Wambach (Todd), and Peggy Annakin (Mike Belt); grandchildren, Jennifer Mack (Jon), Joseph Notter, Lauren Lochner (Edwin), Allison Hines, Matt Notter, Stuart Forney, Samantha Forney, Trevor Willis, Kaitlyn Dame (Logan), Somer Wambach-Salstrom (Jason), Brittany Shoptaugh (Dane), Baxter Annakin, Berkley Deneke (Jesse); along with 17 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Likens and Juanita Whitmer; son, Jack Likens Jr.; sister, Sally Neal; grandson, Joshua Forney; and son-in-law, Doug Annakin.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 19, 2025 at Alexander Funeral Home East Chapel, 2115 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN 47714. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2025 with a Masonic Walk Through at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Visitation will continue from 10:00 a.m. to service time on Friday. Entombment with military honors will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to your favorite charity.

Condolences may be offered at www.AlexanderEastChapel.com.