Thomas F. Zehner, 84, of LaPorte, died at 12:06 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, in his home surrounded by his loving wife and daughters.
He was born May 28, 1925, in Bruce, WI, to Benjamin F. and Euphemia (Coey) Zehner.
Mr. Zehner worked at J.L. Manta Company, Chicago, for 25 years, retiring in 1987. Tom was a member of Local Union 460 for 55 years, a member of American Legion Post 451, and a volunteer for 10 years at The Great Lakes Museum of Military History in Michigan City, IN. Tom honorably served in the United States Navy during World War II. He served in Okinawa and in Normandy on D-Day. Tom was especially proud to have witnessed the Flag Raising at Iwo Jima and to have served aboard the USS Texas and USS Nevada.
On Feb. 1, 1947, in Baltimore, MD, he married Catherine Seitz, who survives.
Also surviving are five daughters, Judy (Glenn) Sconce of LaPorte, Linda (James) Freels of Mission, TX, Myra (Michael) Lalic of Crown Point, IN, Kay (Tom) Harper of Port Orange, FL, and Janet (Mark) Robbins of Buckeye, AZ; one sister, Kay Johnson of California; one brother, Carl Zehner of Idaho; seven grandchildren, Jimmy (Anita), Robyn, Terri (Philip), Wendy, Lisa, Eric, and Geoffrey; and three great-grandchildren, Emily, Bryce and Evan.
Preceding him in death were his parents and one brother, George.
A memorial Mass will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Otis, IN. Cremation has taken place. Lakeview Funeral Home and Crematory, LaPorte, is handling arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made in Tom’s memory to The Great Lakes Museum of Military History, 360 Dunes Plaza, Michigan City, IN 46360.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com.
