John Ulrich

John Martin Ulrich was born on September 27, 1934 to Woodrow W and Thelma (Hosier) Ulrich in Hagerstown, Indiana.  John was the middle child.  Robert the eldest and Charles the youngest.

Hagerstown, John said “was a farming community; but I grew up in town.”  He also said that they lived two blocks from the elementary school and the high school was about a mile away – and yes, he walked to and from school in the rain, the snow and the sunshine.

Growing up, John told me that as children, he and his friends played in the cemetery.  They played games of tag, marbles and of all things, they shot birds with BB guns.  Somehow, I just cannot imagine John shooting a bird.

I asked John if he had any favorable childhood memories.  He smiled and said, “vacations in Upper Michigan.  My brother, Robert, and I loved “sailing” the canoes.  We sailed from lake-to-lake fishing and eating fish.”

Another fond vacation was the time the family traveled to Yellowstone and the Hoover Dam in their family Chevrolet.  Those of us can recall the jingle, “See the USA in your Chevrolet,” well I guess they did.

As a youth, life centered around school and school activities.  life centered around school and school activities.

During the years that John grew up, his social life centered around school. He attended grade school and high school in the Hagerstown-Jefferson township school system graduating in May 1952. John excelled academically and math was John’s passion.  In fact, John was awarded recognition for excellent performance from Indiana University High School Achievement Program in 1949 for Algebra, in 1950 for Geometry and in 1952 for Comprehensive Mathematics.  I guess we might say that John was a numbers guy.

While John was successful with an outstanding high school academic record, he also achieved success in extra circular activities including: business manager of his junior and senior class, President of his Sophomore Class, Vice-President of the Hi-Y cabinet, a club of high Christian character, played the clarinet (first chair) in the “A” band for three years.  He was also on the basketball and golf teams.  While looking at John’s high school yearbook, I found an entry posed by Coach Wright, the basketball coach, saying: “John is a little hot shot who can drop them in with a deadly one hand shot.  He knows how to work the ball and set up opportunities for his team mates.”  Actually, when I read this quote to John, he said, “actually, I could make a two-handed shot from the outside of the circle even off the court and make a goal.”

John enjoyed “shop class” making several pieces of furniture which he still has in his home today.

He was active in scouting which was sponsored by the school and obtained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.

He was awarded certificates for perfect school attendance and numerous certificates for scholastic honor roll.

Upon his high school graduation from Hagerstown-Jefferson township school in 1952, John received an honorary scholarship from Purdue University for his excellent high school academic record and was selected by the educational committee of the Richmond Chapter No 66 of the American Society of Tool Engineers to receive its scholarship for 1952.

Goodbye high school, hello college.  John was accepted to the University of Cincinnati, Ohio and began studying the discipline of Engineering.

John told me that he did not have a car while at the University of Cincinnati.  He said that when he wanted to go home to Hagerstown that he would “catch a ride.”  He then held up his thumb and waived it.  It was obvious that John hitched hiked to and from Cincinnati.  He said that he always “got a ride” and in “those were the days, hitch-hiking was safe.”  He also told me that he lived in private housing in Cincinnati and the cost was only $12 a week!

While at the University of Cincinnati, John was initiated into the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, elected to become a member of Pi Tau Sigma, an international honor society for Mechanical Engineers and Tau Beta Pi, an engineering honor society representing all engineering disciplines and finally, a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.  All of these societies encompassed very defined qualities of leadership, integrity, excellence, service and scholarship.  John possessed every one of these qualities – then and throughout his life.

Other memberships include: Society of Automotive Engineers, Society of Manufacturing Engineering and later member of Indianapolis, Indiana Scientific and Engineering Foundation and Registered Professional Engineer in Indiana.

John graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1957 from the University of Cincinnati.

John, with his engineering degree, John entered the work force and worked for well-known successful companies including: General Electric in Cincinnati, testing gas turbines for three years, Curtis Wright in New Jersey, working with jet boats, and Westinghouse in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, testing shipping containers for space nuclear reactors.

One day, John, received a telephone call informing him of a new one-year program at Pennsylvania State University allowing engineers with work experience to obtain a master’s degree with the idea of teaching. John applied and was accepted into this program and obtained the Degree of Master of Engineering in September 1965.

During these years, 1964-1965, John met and married, Phyllis Simpson.  After completing his Degree of Master of Engineering, John and Phyllis moved to Indianapolis, Indiana where John was hired by Purdue University-Indianapolis as an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and taught for the next 23 years.

His son, Timothy Michael was born in 1967.  Unfortunately, John and Phyllis divorced and John remained single for a while.

In the late 60’s many of us will recall the thriving NASA space program and the epic day that man walked on the moon.  We all gathered around our television sets to watch as two United States astronauts did something that no one had ever done before.  It was said at that time, “that’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”  Apparently, John was moved by this space program and in 1970, he was one of twenty faculty fellows to attend a summer program sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, (NASA), the American Society for Engineering Education, cooperating with University of Houston, Rice University and the Manned Spacecraft Center to define and design a mobility system concept, manned and unmanned lunar exploration and aid in scientific experimentation.  Their conclusion resulted in an abstract of over 500 pages titled, MULE (Manned-Unmanned Lunar Explorer.) John contributed several chapters in this abstract.  Wow!  Some deep stuff!

In August 1974, John met Judith Ann Burkhart Brown at a church special interest picnic.  They began dating and he proposed marriage on March 24, 1975.  They were married in Judy’s home on July 5,1975 by Bishop Clinton Reed Gurney and then sealed for all time and eternity in the Washington, D.C. Temple on May 15, 1979.  In this union, John acquired 4 sons and 1 daughter.

During the last 8 years with Purdue University, he was the Director of ARAC (Aerospace Research Application Center)

John left Purdue University in 1988 and was selected as the Department Head of Engineering and Technology and awarded Full Professorship at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.  His tenure – 1988-1997.

One of his colleagues wrote: “Professor Ulrich earned the respect of his students and colleagues for his commitment and competence as an educator and as a researcher.”  It has been said that teachers are some of the most important and influential people many will meet in their lifetime.  John was one of those teachers.

John and Judy left Kansas and their friends in 1997 and headed for the warm climate of Florida.  They built their dream home in Sun City Center and settle into retirement.  They enjoyed traveling, cruising and genealogy.  John researched diligently thousands of individuals and provided temple ordinances for them.  I am sure these individuals were waiting to personally thank him for his dedication and immeasurable service.

John was a numbers guy – not one to sit around, John began a new career path in the field of tax preparation and was hired in 1998 by H & R Block.  This retirement career lasted 22 years.  Even as a tax preparer he was driven to a higher standard.  He told me that during 2013 he spent the entire summer studying and preparing for a complicated exam in order to receive the distinguished title of Enrolled Agent.  He accomplished this task and was awarded the distinguished title of Enrolled Agent in November 2013 by the Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service.

John and Judy were married for 32 years until the time of her death in 2007.  After two years of widowhood, John found love and companionship and married Charlotte Moran Rich Hansen in the Orlando Temple for time only. They enjoyed traveling to Europe and cursing the open sea until her death two years late in 2011.

John was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He said that while he was obtaining his Master’s Degree in Engineering at Pennsylvania State University, he met a retired Colonel, who was also a fellow student and a member of the church.  John was taught the gospel and in 1965 he was baptized in the Western Branch of the Susquehanna River.  For over 58 years, John faithfully served in various church callings including: Financial clerk, Counselor to Bishop, High Priest Group Leader, Family History Director, Sunday School Instruction, Elders Quorum President, Executive Secretary for 12 years to 2 Stake Presidents (Indianapolis and Kansas) and Temple Ordinance Worker in the Orlando Temple for 25 years.

John’s passion for learning began as a young boy and continued throughout his entire life.  It is evident that he loved engineering and discovering ways to advance his discipline as he imparted his immeasurable knowledge and touched the lives of his students. His unique sense of humor and his infectious smile will shine in our minds as we remember him.  However, John was so much more than his impressive accolades and accomplishments.  He was a godly man, a man who loved the Savior and who loved God.  He lived his beliefs.  He was admired by his family, his friends, and his students.  He was and is respected and loved.  I believe all of us here today can say, we are better for having known John Martin Ulrich.

John was pre-deceased by his parents, Woodrow and Thelma Ulrich, brother Charles Ulrich, wives Judy and Charlotte and son, Mark Brown.

He is survived by his sons, Timothy & Audra, David & Debbie, Charles & Glenda, Gregory & Keela and daughter Julie & Jeremy.

He is also survived by his grandchildren: Scott & Heidi, Amy & Joshua, Clayton & Allison, Chad & Crystal, Chantal & John, Dalton, Lauren, Cody & Amber and Robert.   And his great grandchildren: Emmi, Jake, Halle, Lily, Sam, Natalie, Samuel and Grayson.

What a glorious family reunion for John as he is greeted by those loved ones gone before.

John changed the world for the better and we, his family and friends, have been richly blessed to have had John in our lives. With great love and affection, we honor him and will miss his presence.

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of John Ulrich, please visit our Tribute Store.