Gerald A. “Gerry” Van Hees, 82 of Whiting, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at the Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Dyer, In. He is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Joelanne (nee Gubbins); loving father of Gerald “Jerry” Van Hees, Dianna Conlon and Richard (Lyndsay) Van Hees; adoring grandpa of Maura, Mitchell, Sarah, Lily and Jonathan; dearest cousin of, Jeannette (late Alfred) Studenroth, Michael, Cynthia and John Van Osch, Carol Zuelke, Margaret Kessler, and Marilyn Feingold; many dear brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Van Osch.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2017, 11:30am at the Baran Funeral Home, 1235-119th St., Whiting; a Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 12 noon at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Whiting with the Rev. John E. Kalicky, C.PP.S., officiating; interment, St. John Cemetery, Hammond; visitation at the funeral home on Friday from 4:00 to 9:00pm. The St. John Rosary Society, together with members of the parish, will offer prayers at the funeral home on Friday at 4:30pm.

Gerry Van Hees was born on May 28, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois. He was a graduate of Mt. Carmel High School, Class of 1952, had attended the University of Illinois both in Champaign-Urbana and the Navy Pier campus and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy and a minor in Theology from the Calumet College of St. Joseph, Hammond. Gerry was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Whiting, where he participated with the Marian Theatre Guild and the Adult Choir. He was a retiree of both the Standard Oil (BP) Whiting Refinery with a service of 20 years and the Inland Steel Co. with a service of 27 years. Gerry lived life to the fullest and enjoyed a variety of activities. He was a member of the original Pierogi Fest Precision Lawn Mower Drill Team, loved golf, was a talented classical pianist, an avid Chicago Cubs fan and loved to read. You haven’t heard a joke until you heard a Gerry joke! Devoted to his family, Gerry will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Alzheimer Foundation of America or the St. John the Baptist School Endowment Fund would be appreciated

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