JAMES W. "JIM" BUDZIELEK, JR. age 44, of Chesterton, passed away Saturday, March 31, 2012. Jim was a 1985 graduate of Hobart High School and earned his degree from Indiana University. He was a manager of many Auto Zones, but most recently was managing the Valparaiso location.

Jim is survived by his parents, James W. and Sue Budzielek of Hobart; sister, Karen (Frank) Dzik of Hobart; 1 niece, April Dzik; fiancée, Terry Downey and her 5 children, Jennifer, Brandon, Katie, Haley, and Richard; aunts and uncles, Wally (Carla) Budzielek of Portage, Phil (Marlene) Carl of Hot Springs Village, AR, Larry (Toni) Melle of AZ, and Elinore Melle of Crown Point, IN; numerous cousins and other loving family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Walter and Leona Budzielek and John and Bertha Melle.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 3, 2012 beginning with prayers at 9:30 a.m. at Rees Funeral Home, Hobart Chapel, 600 W. Old Ridge Rd. and going in procession to Assumption B.V.M., 3530 Illinois St., New Chicago, for a 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial with Rev. Lourdu Pasala and Rev. Dominic V. Bertino officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation for Jim will be Monday, April 2, 2012 from 2:00-8:00 p.m. at Rees Funeral Home, Hobart Chapel, with a prayer service at 4:30 p.m. and a rosary immediately following offered by the Sigma Upsilon Alpha Pi Sorority of St. Bridget Church. For information please call (219) 942-2109 or go online at www.reesfuneralhomes.com.