Sgt. John K. Rankel of Speedway, Indiana. He was the son of Trisha Stockhoff and Kevin Rankel. John attended the Speedway schools during elementary and moved into the Center Grove area through his sophomore year. In 2005, he graduated Speedway High School. During high school, he enjoyed sports and lettered in football, basketball and baseball. In August 2005, he followed his passion and joined the U.S. Marine Corp where he was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. During his first enlistment, he deployed twice to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He re-enlisted in 2009 and was re-deployed to Afghanistan in April, assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. During his military career he was recognized for his dedication and hard work. He was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class during boot camp and was promoted to Sergeant by the age of 23. John received multiple Combat Action Ribbons, the Marine Corp Good Conduct Medal, the Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals, multiple Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, and the Global War on Terrorism and National Defense Service Medals. He had also received three individual Certificates of Commendation during his service in the Marine Corp. John was killed in action while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Don and Trisha Stockhoff; his father and stepmother, Kevin and Kim Rankel; two brothers, Nathan Stockhoff and Tyler Rankel; grandparents, Becky Hunt, Betty Mathew, Glenda Stockhoff, Leonard and Dorothy Ratcliff, Dan and Jina Clark and Steve York; uncle, John Mathew (Stacey); aunts, Carol Alfrey, Dawn Thomas (Tim), Brenda Inman (Tom), Candy Abercrombie (Tony) and Janet Smith. He is also survived by several cousins and many friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Vincent and Ethel Rankel and Robert Mathew.