Joseph A. Janis, Jr. "Joe"
age 73, a longtime resident of Hobart passed away on Monday, November 22, 2010. He was born on October 6, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois the son of Joseph and Bernice Janis. Joe attended Lane Tech High School in Chicago and then worked as a slitter operator and supervisor at Pullman Standard and Westmont Steel. He was married to Dina Bach on September 3, 1988 in Hobart. He was a member of the Bonner Senior Center, where he loved to call bingo, and a member of the Northwest Indiana Retirees. Joe loved to be the cameraman for holidays and special events, and enjoyed being the caretaker for Calli, Heidi, and Sheba. He was the inventor of many wild and crazy ideas and worked on his "system" for many years, but never perfected it. Joe kept busy being the neighborhood handyman.
Joseph is survived by his loving family; wife Dina Janis, Hobart, sons Anthony Janis, Chicago, Lonnie Janis, IL, Tom (Wanda) Mathis, Valparaiso, Mark (Kim) Mathis, Portage, Steve Mathis, Lakeville, daughters Cindy (Rick) Sembdner, IL, Virginia (Chris) Deluca, IL, Lisa Havel, IL, and Roberta (Bob) Mathis, Portage, 22 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, daughter-in-law Pam Janis, IL, brother John (Florence) Janis, IL, sister Georgiann Janis, IL, and other loving family and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Jo Anne Smojyi.A visitation for Joseph Janis will be held on Monday, November 29, 2010 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at Rees Funeral Home – Hobart Chapel, 600 West Old Ridge Road, Hobart with a funeral service following immediately at 12:00 noon. Burial will be at Chapel Lawn. Memorials in Joe's memory may be made to the Bonner Senior Center.