JOHN A. SKIBA

Hammond/Chesterton

John A. Skiba, age 89, passed on Saturday, August 2, 2014.

John is survived by his three children: Thomas (Terry) Skiba, of Wayzata, Minnesota; Christine (Terry) Hoover, of Chesterton, IN, and Daniel (Pam) Skiba of Plainfield, IN; six grandchildren: Jordan and Laura Hoover; Sydney, Jonas, Collin, and John Skiba.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nadine; parents Frank and Mary Skiba, both Polish immigrants; siblings Ann, Walter, and Lucille; and daughter Nancy.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2014 with a Mass of Christian burial at 10;00 a.m. directly at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 7132 Arizona Ave., Hammond with Father Charles Mosley celebrant. Burial will follow at St John Cemetery in Hammond.

Friends are invited to meet with the family for a time of visitation at Bocken Funeral Home, 7042 Kennedy Ave., Hammond (Hessville) on Friday,  August 8, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. until  8:00 p.m. and on Saturday morning  at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church from 9:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.

John attended St. Adalbert Grade School in Whiting and later graduated from Hammond Clark High School in 1944, where he excelled as a varsity football player. After graduation, he enlisted as a member of the US Naval Reserve and began working at Standard Oil/Amoco first in Whiting and then at their research laboratories in Naperville, Illinois. For most of his career, John held a Senior Lab Technician position, highlighted by his nuclear weapon research in 1945, from which he received a Certificate of Appreciation from the United States War Department for contributing to the successful conclusion of World War II. He retired after 40 years of service in 1984.

John was a member of Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Catholic Church and was involved in many volunteer activities including the Holy Name Society, The Knights Of Columbus, and the Ushering Committee. John was an avid fan of local high school sports, especially Bishop Noll where he could be seen in attendance at football, basketball, and baseball games for many years. He closely followed Notre Dame football, IU basketball, and the Chicago White Sox. He loved hiking, bird-watching, gardening, horse racing, and was a Civil War enthusiast. John was an honorable man who loved a good laugh and had a unique sense of humor that will be missed by all who came in contact with him. Memorials in memory of John A. Skiba can be made to Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Catholic Church or Bishop Noll Institute Athletic Department

For more information you may call Bocken Funeral Home at (219)-844-1600, or visit www.bockenfunerals.com