A local family is asking for the community’s help after discovering that a deeply meaningful memorial for their loved one had been taken from a cemetery just days after Christmas.
On December 28, 2025, the family of the late Jack E. Neukam, who passed away in 2022, learned that his headstone was missing from Bear Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
The memorial was not a traditional headstone, but a 1,000-pound engraved granite bench, created as a place of reflection and remembrance for Jack and his surviving wife, Paula Neukam.
The loss has left the family stunned and heartbroken. According to the family, no other graves or property in the cemetery were damaged or disturbed. However, small pieces of granite were found at the site, indicating the bench was removed rather than misplaced.
“This bench was more than a marker — it was a symbol of love, memory, and peace,” a family member shared. “To have it taken is incredibly painful.”
In hopes of bringing the memorial home, the family is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to its recovery.
Anyone with information that could assist authorities is urged to contact the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department at 812-346-8642.
Even the smallest detail could help bring closure to a family simply seeking to honor their loved one.
