OBITUARY

Name:    Wendell E. Heller

From:  The Herald-Argus, La Porte, Indiana
Date:  Sunday, June 18, 2006

Mr. Wendell E. Heller Sr., 83, of Hammond, died Thursday, June 15, 2006, in Valparaiso.

He was born March 24, 1923, in Bluffton, Ind., to Hugh and Mary Heller.

Mr. Heller was a retired truck driver/partner with Calumet and Gary Produce for 50 years. He was an avid refinisher of antique furniture and enjoyed smoking his pipe on the front porch swing.

He was married to Clara M. Heller, who died in 1967. He was then married to Frances J. Heller, who died in 2005.

Also preceding him in death were his parents; one daughter, Diane C. Gill; one stepson, Patrick Willardo; and two sisters, Betty Bakala and Shirley Shields.

Surviving are two daughters, Susan M. (James) Fay of Hobart and Mary M. Lee of Fort Worth, Texas; two sons, Wendell E. Jr. of Valparaiso and William H. (Susan) of LaPorte; one stepson, Mickey Willardo of Florida; six grandchildren, Tina Burbridge, Natasha Lee, Melissa Kerr, and Jeffrey, Douglas and Jamie Heller; four great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Robert of Valparaiso and Donald of Munster.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Cremation will take place. Burns Funeral Home, Hobart, is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor?s choice.