John T. Munshower, MD

Dr. John Thomas Munshower of Indianapolis left this world a better place than he found it on Jan 1, 2023 after a short unexpected illness. He was surrounded by family and friends after having celebrated a magnificent Christmas Season and settling in for a post-surgery recovery with one of his favorite annual Harry Potter movie marathons.

John Munshower began his extraordinary adventure on March 30, 1944, at 45 N. Pershing under the guidance of his mother Katherine (Ashcraft) Munshower and his father Wm. Glenn Munshower. He was friend and confidant to his brother Fr. William Munshower and his older sister Anne (Munshower) Delaney and a playmate and sidekick to his brother Frank Forrest Munshower – all with whom he is pleased to be reunited ‘on the other side’. He was a world travel partner, role model, teacher, and companion to his younger sister Christine Marie Munshower who feels his loss most acutely.

He was joined for many adventures by his wife of 50+ years, Marcia Jane (Ward) Munshower when they wed on February 1, 1969. Through trials and tribulations, excursions, delicious dinners, family reunions, graduations, plagues, lymphomas, broken bones, car accidents, births, moves, business realignments, walks in the park (or on the beach), comings and goings of friends, sunsets and sunrises they were able to hold hands and attack a Wordle and Spelling Bee problem in the manner that they approached all things – together.

Doctor Munshower touted a long list of near-death experiences including an incident with a particularly wily hyena, a separate incident involving a black horse named Devil, and a battle with hepatitis during his Peace Corps Days in Ethiopia - where he taught English and later recognized a penchant for healing and patient care while treating Hansen’s disease from 1966-1968. With gentle encouragement from his father (“If you are gonna work so hard you might as well treat people…”) Dr. Munshower chose medical school over a career in veterinary medicine. After coordinating forces with Dr. David Josephson and Dr. Elliot Wallack (and an obligatory haircut), Dr. Munshower began a 46-year escapade battling the evils of neurologic disease in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Doctor Munshower leaves behind piles of NYTimes, Indy Star, Indianapolis Monthly, JAMA, and Science articles; a pair of binoculars and a bird book in every car; too many cookies and ‘only slightly used’ disposable coffee cups in the pantry; 9 brilliant grandchildren (Madilyn Rose Munshower Neumann, Harrison Forrest Munshower Neumann, Ean Maximillian Munshower Neumann, Hannah Katherine Munshower Neumann, Christine Marie Fox, Charles Raphael Fox, Frank Angelo Tiriolo, Sophia Jane Tiriolo, & John Thomas Tiriolo); four bereaved children and their spouses: Najla Munshower (Neumann) and Jon Neumann; Rachel Katherine Munshower Fox and Scott Fox; Juliette Cecile (Munshower) and Frank Tiriolo; and Wm. Glenn Munshower and Anjuli Crocker; nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews all over the country, and patients and friends all over the world. His life made all their lives better – thanks John. You were a wonderful husband, dad, brother, papaw, uncle, doctor and friend.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Amos Butler Audubon Society (https://www.amosbutleraudubon.org/join_donate/), the Eagle Creek Park Foundation (https://eaglecreekpark.org/quick-ways-to-give/), or the charity of your choice. In memory of Dr. John Munshower, please take a child by the hand or put them on your shoulders and explore - with a sense of wonder - the beautiful Indiana parks and forests (or wherever you happen to find yourself). As our John said, "Help prepare them to be the carriers of the following generations." For reference, he considered any field guide from Half-Priced Books a serious bargain, even if you already had a few copies, and he was especially partial to the Sibley Guide to Birds and the Indiana Field Guides to Wildlife, Birds, Trees, and Wildflowers.

Although the last couple of days have been heavy, overcast, and gloomy, as John would say, “We could really use the rain.”

There will be a wake from 3-7 PM Friday, January 6th at Feeney-Hornak Keystone Mortuary, 2126 E. 71st Street in Indianapolis. The funeral Mass will be held at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 377 N Warman Avenue on Saturday, January 7th at 10:00 AM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.feeneyhornakkeystone.com for the Munshower, family.