John Pichtel, 68, of Gaston, Indiana, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, January 9, 2026, with family by his side. He was born on September 19, 1957, in Staten Island, New York, to Rose Andrewjack-Metz and Stanley Pichtel. On November 9, 1990, John married the love of his life, Theresa Prieshoff, and they enjoyed many happy decades together. He dedicated more than 36 years to Ball State University as a professor, retiring in 2024. He served as a visiting scientist in Scotland, Finland, Ireland, and Italy, and led numerous field studies with Ball State students.

Source: The Star January 22, 2026 12:52 UTC