John Norman Langley II

John Norman Langley II, born January 23, 1952 in Newburgh, Indiana, was welcomed into his eternal home in the early morning of January 1, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. John is preceded in death by his parents, John Norman and Emma Langley, as well as his sister, Cathleen Yetter. He is survived by his wife, Lorraine Rodts, his daughter, Perry Langley, and nephew, Christopher Yetter.

As a man of humility and integrity, he began his work life first as a welder, then a farmhand after school and during the summer. After graduation from Madison Consolidated High School, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Science from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA). After graduation, John worked at Lake Monroe on the maintenance team, sometimes as a trash specialist, where he learned to value ordinary labor and acquired the skills that served him later in his career. In his first professional role, he was hired by Frank McCloskey as Housing Code Enforcement Officer, garnering the title “Code Man,” from his employees. He went on to campaign with McCloskey and then as Tomi Allison’s mayoral assistant. He was proud to be a person who invested in his community. He spent more than forty years in city administration, with brief stints in personnel, and a very trying period dealing with a community deeply concerned about PCB contamination, finally serving as Assistant Director of Utilities, in which role he retired. He was very proud of being a leader who invested in relationships with employees and adversaries, believing in recognizing the positive contributions of each person.

An avid fisherman, John loved fishing both for the companionship that it brought and the sport of catching fish. He was a musician, playing guitar on his own and giving small performances with his group of friends at their annual gathering, affectionately called, “Kimblaya.” After retirement, he looked forward to his daily outings with his dog, Ivy, and their friends at the park.

John was known for his kindness, compassion, sense of humor, and love for his family. He was very intentional about cultivating relationships with others, whether it was with the grocers, a new neighbor, or passersby on the street. John could be quite hilarious at times, often clever. When he and his daughter got together their senses of humor “fed off” one another, giving rise to much laughter. He was known to be a person who was a reliable, trustworthy friend. He was very intentional about instilling these values in his daughter in imitation of his own parents, and he was an incredibly affectionate, loving father. He often spoke openly of his love for his wife, and was the backbone of his family, selflessly serving them each day with a cheerful heart.

Calling hours will be Friday, January 10, 2025 from 4:00-8:00 PM at Day & Deremiah- Frye Funeral Home in Bloomington. A Requiem Latin Mass will be offered for the repose of his soul at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 520 Stevens Street, Indianapolis, on January 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM with a meal following.

Online condolences may be given at www.DayDeremiahFrye.com