Carl Bernard "Bernie" Huesing

“While alive, he lived.”  Carl Bernard “Bernie” Huesing passed away on January 14, 2026 in Zionsville, Indiana. He was the son of Carl J. and Alice (Boren) Huesing, born during an early winter snowstorm on November 17, 1932, in Indianapolis at the old St. Vincent’s Hospital on Fall Creek Boulevard.

He graduated from Cathedral High School in Indianapolis in the Class of 1950, in the middle of the Korean War, and entered the U.S. Navy, where he served four consecutive years (1952-1956) aboard the destroyer, U.S.S. Hebert J. Thomas, DDR 833. The ship was in combat against North Korean and Chinese forces in 1952-53, primarily with U.S. Task Force 77. As Petty Office First Class and Leading Sonarman, he received the U.S. Korean Service Medal, United Nations Medal, U.S. Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Korea Service Medal, China Service Medal (Taiwan Straits Interdictions), National Defense Medal, and the U.S. Navy Good Conduct Medal. On October 29, 1955, he received a personal Letter of Commendation from the captain of the Thomas, John C. Borden, Commander, U.S. Navy. He had four deployments to the Far East.

Much later in 2000, he received a Letter of Appreciation from Kim-Jung, President of the Republic of Korea, together with an Ambassador for Peace gold medal. He was a member of the VFW, the Korean War Veterans Association, and the American Legion. He also was on a military honor flight to Washington, D.C.

Bernie began his studies at Purdue University immediately after his honorable discharge in 1956 and earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering in 1959. He was a manager at the Greencastle, Indiana, plant of P.R. Mallory and Company, which made electronic components for the Apollo Space program.

In 1963, he was admitted to Purdue’s Krannert Graduate School of Management, where he earned an M.S. degree in business and finance. He received a stipend from the school to help support his family of five. He soon joined the consulting divisions of international public accounting firms Arthur Andersen, and Arthur Young and Company in Indianapolis, helping clients improve the control and growth of their businesses. He earned his Indiana CPA certificate in 1976. He was a member of the Indianapolis Athletic Club, the AICP, and the American Inventory Control Society.

He left public accounting in the 1970s to serve as General Manager of the Maco Corporation in Huntington, Indiana, eventually taking the opportunity to purchase the mid-sized manufacturing company in 1982. The company made aluminum castings for heavy-duty engine manufacturers, including Mack Trucks, John Deer, Allison Div. GMC, and Dana Corporation. He founded an associated precision machining company, Huesing Industries, Inc., and solely owned and managed both companies for 26 years. Peak employment was 125 employees. Bernie also served on local boards, including Huntington Hospital, the Rotary Club, the Samaritan Center, Red Cross, and Huntington College. He gifted merit scholarships to Huntington North High School students entering Purdue. He retired in 2002.

Bernie discovered long distance running in his late 40s. During the next 30 years, he competed in hundreds of foot races in the United States. He completed forty 26.2 mile marathons, including seven Boston marathons and 15 New York City marathons. He was also an active member of the Fort Wayne Track Club and Little River Hiking Group. His last 26.2 mile marathon was the Churchill Downs marathon in 2005 at age 73. He ran 5Ks well into his 80s.

Isiah 40:31…”but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles: they will run and not grow weary…”

He and his beloved wife, Nancy Conville Huesing, were married in 1995. They traveled the U.S. and the world, visiting Europe, the U.K., Finland, Russia, Africa, China, Japan, Hawaii, and survived a small science camp journey by boat on the Amazon River in Peru.

In retirement, Bernie and Nancy moved to Fort Wayne and spent years enjoying golf at the Sycamore Hills Golf Club. He and his family also enjoyed skiing at their place in Vail, Colorado, and vacationing at their condominium in Florida. Some of their favorite weekends were spent at Indiana State Parks.

When he turned 80, Bernie expanded his writing hobby to write and publish two historical fiction novels, set in the Civil War and WW II, respectively. He was a member of the national Historical Novel Society, the Indiana Writers Center, and the Florida Writers Association. He loved music, especially classical: Vivaldi, Chopin, Rossini, Liszt, Beethoven, and Mozart. His well-worn books included those by Ralph Waldo Emerson, C.S. Lewis, Hemingway, Aristotle, and the writings of Augustus and Marcus Aurelius.

He was a Life Member of Purdue’s President Council and Alumni Association and a 44-year member of the John Purdue Club. He also served a term as president of Purdue’s Krannert Graduate School Alumni Board.

Bernie and Nancy moved to Zionsville in 2016, where he was a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, the Indianapolis Hiking Club, the Indianapolis Scientech Club, the Intertel Honor Society, and American Mensa. He also enjoyed the quarterly meetings of the Cathedral Class of 1950 alumni. He was a great patriot all of his life and loved American military history.

In his later years, he could often be seen hiking on his favorite trail in Zionsville, the Rail Trail, which leads to a long wooden ramp down to the beautiful Eagle Creek River. He was the “tall, gray-haired guy who always had a wave and a smile for fellow hikers.”

Bernie was especially proud of the many achievements of his three daughters, who all eventually migrated to Boulder, Colorado: Catherine Clark, Elizabeth Huesing, and Jennifer Stachniak, his children with his first wife, the late Patricia Ann McCarthy.

Surviving include his wife Nancy Conville Huesing; daughters Catherine Clark (Chris), Elizabeth Huesing, and Jennifer Stachniak (Nicholas); sisters Jeanne Huser, Margaret Withem, and Helen Adams; eight grandchildren, Maya Kumar, Rani Kumar, Emma Clark, Aidan Clark, Ronan Clark, Matthew Stachniak, Patrick Stachniak, and Charlotte Stachniak; and many nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by Nancy's daughters Sarah (husband Jorge) Ordonez and their children: George and Henry; and Katie (husband Keith) Glenn and their children: Jack and Maggie.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 26, 2026 at 11:00 AM at St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church, located at 1870 W. Oak Street, Zionsville, IN 46077.

Father Travis Stephens will officiate.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral mass at the church.

Entombment will follow at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cathedral High School, Indianapolis, St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church, Zionsville, or your favorite charity.

Flanner Buchanan - Zionsville has charge of arrangements.