Clarence I. Ragan, 95, of Sweetser, passed away at 11:57 a.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026, at Wesleyan Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Marion. He was born north of West Middleton in Howard County, Indiana, on Tuesday, December 2, 1930, to Frank A. and Flora (Shirley) Ragan.
Mr. Ragan and his siblings were admitted to the Moose Lodge’s Children Home (Mooseheart, IL) where he attended school through his junior year, completing his high school education at Greentown (IN) High School, graduating in 1948.
Mr. Ragan married Barbara J. Hiatt, of Greentown, July 22, 1949; they moved to Sweetser in 1956. They had two children: Mark A. (Chikako), of Brisbane, Australia, and Abby R. Molino, Frankton, IN. There are four grandchildren, Alicia and Wesley (Vi) Ragan, of Brisbane, Australia, and Vincent and Victor Molino of Greentown, Indiana; and one great grandchild, born to Wesley and Vi Ragan, Niko Ragan. Barbara passed away in June 2008.
He was also preceded in death by his nine siblings: four brothers, Ernest F., Lester E., Clyde E., and Louis S.; and five sisters, Esther Watson, Helen Carlisle, Marianna Hunt Ewing, and twin sisters, Kathleen Schopp Buckley and Katherine Kucharski.
Clarence maintained a membership in the Moose Lodge as an expression of his gratitude for the Moose Lodge’s care for him and his siblings during the Depression Years of the 1930s through the early 1940s. For the majority of his working career, he was employed as a printer; working at several printing firms throughout central and north-central Indiana. He was a long-time member of the International Typographical Union, working under Union jurisdiction in Kokomo, Indianapolis, and Marion. After retirement, he became the proprietor of the Backburner Press in Sweetser – a working printing museum dedicated to the preservation of letterpress printing technology.
He was his wife’s “go-fer” during her ownership of The Etcetera Gift Shop and The Sweetser Antiques, Etc., 1978 through 2008.
A Protestant, in his doctrinal preference he was a committed Calvinist; arriving at this conclusion through study of the Bible, theology, and Church history.
There will be no visitation or funeral services. Mr. Ragan said, “There have been enough lies told about me already.” Burial will at Maple Grove Cemetery in Sweetser, Indiana.
Arrangements are entrusted to Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral & Cremation Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Grant County Humane Society, 505 S Miller Ave, Marion, IN 46953.
Memories may be shared online at www.nswcares.com.
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