Edward Joseph Prusiecki, age 93 of Hobart, passed away Monday, May 30, 2011. He graduated from East Chicago Washington High School in 1935. Since his parents owned and operated the White Eagle Dairy, Edward decided to study dairy science at Purdue University. At that time, during the Depression, there were about 4,400 students at Purdue. In his senior year at the Newman Club meeting, he met a freshman and future wife of 64 years, Juanita Weiss, of Richmond, Indiana. He graduated in 1939. Juanita and Edward married the following year. The principal farms for supplying milk for pasteurizing the White Eagle Dairy were in the Hobart area, and, when in 1939 his family learned the Strand Theater in Hobart was for sale, they purchased it. After the Art Theatre was built in 1940, he and Juanita moved to Hobart. When the US entered World War II, Edward continued running the theater. He also worked in steel mills before his enlisting in the Navy, serving with both Navy and USMC units as a 3rd Class Pharmacist Mate (PhM3c), a rating which is now called Hospital Corpsman. Edward was the first of three brothers to served in the US Navy. As so many members of the Greatest Generation, he returned home to his wife and daughter, Linda, when the war ended. Two more children, David and Joanne, joined the family over the next few years. With the advent of TV, the theater business declined, and Edward became a salesman working for Mitchell Sporting Goods in Hobart and then for Brown and Bigelow. In 1953, he formed his own business, Art Advertising Specialties, which he operated for 54 years before fully retiring in 2007. Throughout his life he was active in the Washington HS Alumni Association and several Purdue organizations, including the Purdue University President's Council. He was a benefactor of several of the University's program such as Purdue University Libraries, and Purdue Visual and Performing Arts. A room in the Dauch Alumni Center in West Lafayette is named for him in recognition of his continued generosity to the University. He served as a board member of Gary Federal Savings and Loan and S&T Credit Union. In addition to his WWII ribbons, he was honored with numerous business and civic awards during his professional career. Edward is survived by 2 daughters, Linda (Ken) Senne, Lexington, MA, Joanne (Al) Blow, Bristol, TN, son, David (Cynthia) Prusiecki; 4 grandchildren, Andre and Darrien of Bristol, TN and Elizabeth and Edward T. of Palatine, IL. He was preceded in death by his wife, Juanita and 2 brothers, Fred and John J. Prusiecki. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to St. Bridget Church, Hobart. Funeral services for Edward will be Friday, June 3, 2011 with a 10:00 am mass of Christian burial at St. Bridget Catholic Church, 568 E. 2nd Street, Hobart with Rev. Dominic V. Bertino officiating. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Calumet City. Visitation for Edward will be on Thursday, June 2, 2011 from 5-9 pm at Rees Funeral Home, 600 W. Old Ridge Road, Hobart with additional visitation at St. Bridget Church from 9:00 am to 10:00 am. Please call 219-942-2109 or online at reesfuneralhomes.com.