John Douglas Brannan died peacefully at the Larsen Health Center at Shell Point Retirement Community in Ft. Myers, Florida, on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. John led a very full life. Born in South Bend, Indiana October 10,1927 to Ralph and Marian Brannan, John attended South Bend Central High School, Indiana University and the IU Dental School.

During the depression he watched his parents work to make ends meet in the college town of Notre Dame taking in students, selling shoes and working in the Studebaker automobile factory. His parents, sister Patricia (Pat Hilgendorf) and he enjoyed picnics and peaceful times on Lake Michigan.

He left home at 17 in quest of an education and to make his own way in the world. He enrolled in the Merchant Marines via the Sheepshead Bay Maritime Training Center in New York and quickly boarded a freighter heading to Europe working below deck in the engine room. He lived frugal enough and played poker well enough to self fund his next adventure. At Indiana University in Bloomington he participated in a dental fraternity, and enjoyed Hoosier basketball.

While finishing Dental School in Indianapolis he met Mary Alice Rowland, a teacher at Shortridge High School and fellow IU alum. They courted and married just in time to honeymoon along route 66 on their way to Camp Pendleton in San Clemente, CA, where John reported as a naval officer. From there, he was deployed to Korea in a MASH unit.

After serving time in the Navy, the newlyweds returned to Indianapolis to be closer to their families, and John started his dental practice. Dr. Brannan was a trusted and beloved dentist, known for telling jokes and giving out toothbrushes on Halloween. He practiced in several locations throughout Indianapolis, ending up in Castleton just north of the city. He and Mary Alice (M.A.) had three girls, Ann (Mathieson), Susan (Bertram) and Julie (Hodge) and 9 beloved grandchildren, Abby, Tory, Beca and Drew Mathieson, Kyle and Kelly Bertram, and Barton, Katie and Bryce Hodge. In the last year, he also became a great-grandfather to Lena Rhine Mathieson (daughter to Tory and Noah). He and Mary Alice built their community, first on Winston Drive, and then on Hampstead Court. They created special memories through Easter egg hunts, Christmas Carolling parties and outings with the Dental group.

John was a kind, disciplined and positive person. He believed in Dale Carnegie's philosophy of positive thinking, in raising independent children to pursue their dreams, and in minimizing stress. He and Mary Alice had a close group of Indianapolis friends, "The Dental Group." As members of the study club, they learned together, laughed together and taught their children the value of close friendship and life long learning.

In addition to his dental practice and family, John was devoted to sailing. He and M.A. spent many weekends racing Snipes at the Indianapolis Sailing Club on Geist Reservoir. They ventured to many a regatta, with their boat in tow, sometimes coming home with trophies, but always with a good story and a smile. In addition to sailing, John was an avid cyclist, completing the "Hilly Hundred" bike ride in Brown County for many years.

When John retired, he and Mary Alice moved to Ft. Myers Florida, at first as "snowbirds" but eventually as permanent Florida residents. They moved from racing Snipes to cruising and overnighting on their Catalina, Vitamin Sea. They spent time on the Gulf, tying up for lunch at Grandma Dots or Dock Fords and following the dolphins. They also spent many weeks with good friends (Keith and Coleen Alexander, Kaye and Ralph Townsend, Patsy & Frank Hyatt, Jim and Julie Richter and Berkley and Nancy Duck) chartering sailboats in the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, and other tropical paradises. John was a meticulous planner and documentor of these trips. He published several articles on his travels and filled pocket notebooks with memories, agendas and schedules. He was also an accomplished photographer, documenting family vacations and sailing adventures. Being on the water was his greatest joy. John and Mary Alice had 42 wonderful years together before, sadly, M.A. passed away at the age of 65.

After Mary Alice's death John spent time visiting his daughters, driving solo from Florida every summer to see Susan in Chicago, Julie in Detroit and Phil and Jean Bly in Indiana. Grandpa John was an expected guest at the Mathieson's in California every year as well. While in Florida, he met and spent time with Maggie DeCaro with whom he took his first cruise and celebrated his 70th Birthday.

Always a health enthusiast, John ate well, exercised and had post-its on his mirror that said, "Refuse Elevators," "Only floss the teeth you want to keep" and "Onward and Upward." When he offered counsel, it often ended with a familiar question, "In 100 years, will it matter? and the sincere wish for "Good luck and Good health!" He had a wonderful ability to understand the realities of the world and the discipline to focus on the "controllables." This mental strength developed and was honed throughout his life, in fact, when John decided to move to Shell Point Retirement Community in 2010, he was planning to live to age 120!

At Shellpoint, he met Linda Forcey. She is a retired college professor, and he was impressed with her intelligence – and also her beauty. Linda and John loved each other and spent almost 10 years together as traveling partners, companions and best friends. Linda remains a close friend and special person to the Brannan family.

Since the pandemic, John suffered from dementia and though his body was strong, his mind was steadily slipping. He spent time the last several years at the Shell Point Arbor Assisted Living Facility, Connected Living and The Larsen Health Center, where the staff were helpful and kind. Though proud and independent, he appreciated their assistance, often saying thank you and never complaining. Full time helpers, Andre, Gigi and Sandy, supported him through the last phase of his wonderful life and his daughters visited regularly.

Dr. Brannan's daughters are planning a celebration of life near Indianapolis in September. Anyone interested in attending should reach out to Ann ( ann@mathieson.org ), Susan ( susan@sb-designs.net ) or Julie ( JBH64@Comcast.net ). In lieu of flowers, they request that gifts in his honor be made to the Shell Point Legacy Foundation. Checks can be sent with John Brannan in the memo line to Sally Brumfield at Shell Point Legacy Foundation, 15010 Shell Point Blvd., Ft. Myers, FL 33908. Donations will support Shellpoint's Academy of Lifelong Learning and its Larson Health Center Auxiliary.