Richard J. Preneta, Sr., 77 of Whiting passed away on Monday, April 3, 2017 at the William J. Riley Memorial Residence, Munster. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 56 years, Maryanne (nee Harris) on February 27, 2016;  cherished father of Robert Preneta of Knox, IN, Julie (Roger) Van Huss of Las Vegas, NV and the late Richard Preneta, Jr.; devoted canine companion and fourth child, Buster (his goofy, Labrador Retriever); proud grandfather of Ashley (Vincent) Donovan and Angela (Julio Leon) Preneta; adoring great grandpa of Rylan and Brody; dear brother of Joseph (Khristina) Preneta and the late Geraldine (Richard) Madsen, Rich treasured his memories of times past with cousins of the Duhon, Miskus and Bachusz families and was held as a dear uncle to many nieces and nephews in the Harris, Hill and Madsen families.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 11:00am at the Baran Funeral Home, 1235-119th St., Whiting with the Rev. Stanley J. Dominik, officiating; interment, Holy Cross Cemetery, Calumet City, Ill.; visitation at the funeral home on Saturday morning from 9:00am to time of services.

Richard Preneta was born on August 16, 1939 in Whiting, Indiana to Peter and Stella (Hojka) Preneta. He was a lifelong resident and a member of St. Adalbert Church, Whiting. He attended Bishop Noll High School for three years and graduated from George Rogers Clark High School, Class of 1958.

Rich, “Squirrel” to his friends, was an avid outdoorsman and loved to fish and hunt waterfowl. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited and a founding member of Waterfowl USA. He was an accomplished waterfowl guide and treasured his countless trips to Nason, IL and Horicon Marsh in Wisconsin. “The Kid” retired from LTV Steel, East Chicago, where he worked as a pipe fitter welder for the United Steel Workers, Local 1011 with a service of 37 years. Devoted to his family, Rich will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him

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