John "Jack" Kerr Lamb

John Kerr Lamb — Jack to everyone who knew him — passed away peacefully on July 16, 2026, at a senior care facility in Carmel, Indiana, with his twin brother, Jim, at his side. Jack was 69.

Born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, Jack was a one-of-a-kind, fun-loving force of nature. He was simply the best friend a person could hope to have, and his circle of friends was wide. Deeply loyal, he loved the good times they had together.

Bold, full of vigor, and never one to turn down a dare, Jack had more than a few notable escapades in his younger years. The most famous may be "the shot from the street": One night, after dark, standing in the street, he threw a basketball clear over a two-story house and swished the hoop mounted on the detached garage at the back of the property — a shot of more than 30 yards! Those who saw it still talk about it. Then there was the time he was bucked off a horse when it refused a jump during an exhibition. Jack collected himself in midair, did a somersault, stuck the landing, took a bow and received arena-wide applause. These are the types of things Jack could pull off.

After a semester at a junior college, Jack decided it was time to get a job and make some money. His professional life began selling the then up-and-coming RC Cola for a distributor out of Elkhart. His manager there became a mentor, and Jack became the kind of salesman his customers simply didn't want to let leave the store. He got close to the people on his route — close enough that when he learned one self-insured customer had been robbed the day before and was at risk of closing for good, Jack quietly wrote a large check so they could keep their doors open. He got every dollar back and free pizza for life.

Later, in Austin, Texas, Jack joined Dell Computer, where he consistently ranked among the top three salespeople in an organization of more than 300. He worked hard, earned well, saved wisely, and was able to retire in his forties.

That was when he moved to the Greater Charleston, South Carolina area to be close to the ocean and his sister Laurie’s family. There, he forged a strong bond with his nephew Dan, Cassandra, and their children. During this period, Jack became quite generous to people who were down and out. He fed and clothed them, got them good jobs, made sure they had a place to stay, and encouraged them daily. He never sought recognition; it was simply in his nature to help others.

Around this time, Jack bought a 45-foot, late-model Prevost motorcoach for an almost comically low price: The seller was too motivated to ignore Jack’s offer. He simply could not argue Jack's view that his offer was more than reasonable. Jack covered a lot of miles on that coach, rolling north every summer to visit his brother Jim and family, and then on to Lake Michigan with his happy pack of dogs.

Those dogs deserve a mention of their own. Jack accidentally created his own dog breed, half Boston, half Jack Russell terrier, and named them Boston Jacks. They turned out to be smart, high-energy, and endlessly lovable little clowns. The perfect traveling companions.

Jack's final chapter saw serious health struggles and then a devastating car accident — one that was not his fault — that left him with lasting physical and mental challenges. He spent his last years in a memory care facility near Jim, who encouraged him almost every day.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Jane (Banks) Lamb and James Leonard Lamb. He never married and had no children of his own, but he was rich in family. He is survived by his twin brother, Jim (Lee) Lamb, and their children: Benjamin (Julie) Lamb, parents of Elizabeth; and Christopher (Sydney) Lamb, parents of Rosemary, Elizabeth, and Daisy. He is also survived by his sister, Laurie Tollens (Pete), and their children: Dan (Cassandra) Tollens, parents of Finley, Bishop, Tyler, and Reidi; Jim (Melissa) Tollens, parents of Ridge and Piper; Mamie Tollens Berent (David), parents of Maddie; and Banks Tollens. Additionally, he is survived by his half-sister, Linda Lamb Neaylon, and her children: James Neaylon; and daughter Lizzie Neaylon Kinnich (Matt), parents of George.

Arrangements are pending.