Joseph A. Honkoski

Lake Station, Indiana

Joseph A. Honkoski, age 86, a longtime resident of Lake Station passed away surrounded by his family on Saturday, November 6, 2010. He was born on March 19, 1924 in East Gary, the son of John and Elizabeth Honkoski. Joseph was a 1942 graduate of Edison High School. Joe proudly served his country in the United States Army during World War II. He saw action in New Guinea, Leyte, and Luzon in the Philippine Islands. He was selected to serve in the honor guard who escorted General MacArthur to the ship where the peace treaty was signed. Joe was decorated with several bronze stars for his service.

Joe was married to Elizabeth Ryan on August 23, 1947 at St. Marks Catholic Church. He worked as an estimator pipe fitter and a member of the U.S. Plumbing and Pipe Fitters Union Local 210. Joe was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, a charter member of the Knight of Columbus Clements Council 3283, and a charter member of the American Legion Post 100. He loved golfing, fishing, basketball, and football. Joe was inducted into the East Gary High School Hall of Fame for Basketball.

Joe is survived by his loving family, wife Elizabeth "Betty" Honkoski, Lake Station, daughters Patty (Steve) Murawski, Granger, Barb (Bruce) McCullough, Russellville, AR, Peggy (Mike) Lawhead, Valparaiso, Elise (Tom) Seed, Miller, grandchildren Jeff Murawski, Kenny Murawski, Kim Trippel, Laura Wolf, Colleen McCullough, Patrick McCullough, Kelly Wolf, and Kevin Lawhead, great-grandchildren Lance Trippel, Ella Wolf, Ike Wolf, Slade McCullough, Lilly Wolf, and Brynne Murawski, sister Anna Mikula, Mountain Home, AR, numerous relatives in Hungary, and other loving family and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers George, John, Steve, and his sister Sister Mary Elise – PHJC.

A visitation for Joseph Honkoski will be held from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at Rees Funeral Home – Brady Chapel, 3781 Central Avenue, Lake Station with a Knights of Columbus service at 3:30 pm and prayers at 4:00 pm. A morning visitation will be held from 9:00 am to 10:00 am directly at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 2447 Putnum Street, Lake Station followed at 10:00 am with a mass of Christian Burial, with Father Eduardo Malagon, officiating. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Portage. Memorials in Joe's memory may be made to the donor's choice. For further information please call Rees Funeral Home at (219) 962-1606 or online at www.reesfuneralhomes.com.