DONALD L. "DON" KNUTILLA, age 82, of Chesterton, passed away Friday, October 22, 2010 at home. Don was born in Ironwood, Upper Michigan and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School. Immediately after finishing high school he enlisted in the Army Air Force and was trained in electronics. Don was then stationed in Tokyo, Japan where he received more training and maintained radio & teletype equipment. After discharge from the Air Force he came to Indiana where he attended Valparaiso Technical Institute. He was employed at Cosmopolitan Radio in Gary for 7 years, 28 years at Inland Steel and 5 years at US Steel in Chicago. Don was married to his beloved wife, Jean, for 56 years before she passed away in December of 2006. They enjoyed bowling together for many years at Ray's Lanes in Lake Station, before they moved to Florida where they bowled at Lake Placid, Fl. He was a member and past deacon at the First Presbyterian Church in Portage.
Don is survived by his daughter, Judith (Shawn) Rue of Chesterton and son, Jeff Knutilla of Portage, 6 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, 3 brothers, Robert (Shirley) Knutilla of Albuquerque, NM, Marvin (Ruth) Knutilla of Lincoln, IL and Carl (Marlene) Knutilla of McHenry, IL, sister, Joann (Jay) Badouski and several nieces & nephews. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to First Presbyterian Church of Portage.
Funeral services will be held Monday, October 25, 2010 at 1:00 pm at Rees Funeral Home, Olson Chapel, 5341 Central Avenue, Portage, with Rev. Tim Reyna officiating. Burial will follow at Calumet Park Cemetery in Merrillville, Indiana. Visitation will also be Monday from 10 am until the service begins at 1:00 pm at Rees Funeral Home, Olson Chapel, 219-762-3013 or online www.ReesFuneralHomes.com.