Larry A. "Jughead" Hladek

Hammond, IN

Larry A. Hladek, 83, of Hammond, IN, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, February 13, 2016. He is survived by his wife of 61 years (on February 19) Aggie; children Lori Hladek, Cathy (Ronnie Dunn) Guillen, Larry (Karen) Hladek, Nancy (Rich) Perez, Kelly (Wes) Hladek Miller, and Andy (Marizol) Hladek; grandchildren Oscar Guillen, Andrew Hladek, Nascha Hladek, and Duke Messenger; sisters Margaretha Motes and Elsie Palikan; many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and his cat Rambo. Preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Paula Hladek and sisters Agnes Smalley, Vickie Jones, Esther Pukac, and Lorraine Gibson.

Born and raised in the "Frogsville" neighborhood in Hammond, Larry learned to speak Slovak from a very early age. He was a proud 1950 graduate of Hammond Tech High School. He also enjoyed playing football at Louisiana State University from 1950-51. An Army veteran, Larry served his country during the Korean War and was a member of American Legion Post 369 and VFW Post 717. He was a retired welder who worked at Blaw-Knox and for the Midwest Operating Engineers (Local 150), and he was a founding member of St. Catherine of Siena Church in Hammond. In his retirement, Larry and his hand-crafted Hammond Tech Appreciation Society float entertained crowds along parade routes throughout Northwest Indiana. "Two bits, four bits, six bits a dollar...all for Jughead, stand up and holler!"

Larry provided for his family and spoiled his pets. He took pride in the home that he built and enjoyed cutting his grass and landscaping around his yard. A colorful character and Chinese checkers master, he dutifully documented family holidays and events with his trusty Canon AE-1, cheered his heart out at countless Hessville and Morton ball games, relished impromptu rounds of UNO, and was never one to pass up a summer festival or church fish fry. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Family and friends may call at Bocken Funeral Home, 7042 Kennedy Avenue, Hammond, on Tuesday, February 16 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 17 at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 6525 Kentucky Avenue, Hammond with a visitation at 9:30 a.m. followed immediately by a funeral mass at 10:00 a.m. with Father Charles Mosley officiating. Burial to follow at St. John-St. Joseph Cemetery, Hammond. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to either the Humane Society Calumet Area, 421 45th Avenue, Munster, IN or The William J. Riley Memorial Residence, 511 Otis Bowen Drive, Munster, IN. For additional details please contact Bocken Funeral Home (219) 844-1600 or www.bockenfunerals.com.