Walter Wojciechowski, age 76, of Hobart passed away January 28, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.  Walter was born in Liege, Belgium on December 31, 1948, during the time his family immigrated from Poland to the United States.

Preceded in death were wife, Patricia Wojciechowski; grandson, Bobby Rosendaul; parents, Walter & Antoinette (Madusheska) Wojciechowski; sister, Barbara Walczak; brother, George Wojciechowski; brothers-in-law, Ronald Green, Gus Tsakopoulos, Keith Cates, and Carey Curtis; sister-in-law, Denise Wojciechowski, Lifetime best friends, Larry Catt and George Wroe.

Walter is survived by his daughter, Tammie (Joseph) Huber and grandson, Brett; son, Eddie (Jen Cantu) and grandchildren; Brittany and Jacob Wojciechowski, Pattie (Zivko) Prentoski, and great-grandchildren, Gavin and Elena; Grandson, Jay Buchanon and great grandson, Noah, and special family friend, Russell Snyder; daughter, Destiny (Brian) Whitaker and grandchildren, Shelby and Kaitlyn; sisters, Irene Tsakopoulos, Evelyn Cates, and Wanda Curtis; sister-in-law, Frannie Green.  Lifetime dedicated family friend, Suzanne (Scott) Whitworth-Van Horn; special kitty companion "Kiki".

Walter enlisted in the US Army in 1969 and was stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas.  He served during the Vietnam War time as a M-14 Rifle Expert, Surfacing Equipment Specialist, and Heavy Equipment Operator/Truck Driver.  He was Honorably discharge and received the National defense Service Medal in 1973.  During this time, Wally met the love of his life who was his commanding Sergeant's-daughter, and married Patricia Ann Green on September 23, 1969.  Military base transfers moved them to Monterey, California where Walter studied criminal justice at Hartnell College in Salinas, California.  He became certified by the United States Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons in Jail Operations and worked as a Correctional Officer at Soledad Prison in Soledad, California.  Wally and Patty eventually relocated back to Northwest Indiana where he worked at Inland Steel Company (USW1010) in East Chicago, Indiana as a Truck Driver operating flatbed, tanker and dump trucks delivering materials throughout the mill. During layoffs at the mill, he worked at Kenwall Steel, Dennis-Smith Trucking, Chicago Fleet Liquidators as a truck driver. He ultimately retired in 1997 from Inland Steel, and while there his coworkers gave him the nickname, "Double-Clutch".  After retirement he enjoyed at home playing his American Trucker Simulator game which allowed him to drive All Night!  He enjoyed truck driving so much and even could be seen shifting gears and operating the foot pedals while sleeping in his dreams. Walter was a proud Licensed Amateur Radio Operator under the name, "KC9MIL".  He had many friends through this line of communication and shared this special hobby with his son Eddie.  He belonged to many radio clubs including; American Radio of Northwest Indiana Sideband Group operated under the call name, "AR-13", and Southern Great Lakes Sideband Member.  Wally loved music and he often played the guitar, singing Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Sr., Merle Haggard and Elvis Presley for friends and family for many years.  In his younger years, he even played "gigs" with his lifetime friend, Larry Catt, at local pubs. Wally also loved to ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles and owned many through the years. Walter will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

A special Thank you, to VNA Hospice nurses and staff of Valparaiso, and the many friends and family support and love.

A funeral visitation will be held on Monday, February 3, 2025, from 4-7 pm at Rees Funeral Home, 600 W. Old Ridge Road, Hobart, Indiana.  Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 4, 2025, starting at 10 am at Rees Funeral Home with a burial to take place at Ridgelawn Cemetery, Gary, Indiana.