Dorothy M. Potucek

Dorothy M. Potucek, 93 of Schererville, formerly of Whiting, passed away on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at Franciscan Health, Crown Point. She was the beloved daughter of the late Paul and Anna (Cermak) Potucek. She was preceded in death by her sister, Ann Elizabeth Potucek and brother and sister-in-law, John and Lillian Potucek. She is survived by her nephews, John (Monica) Potucek and Chuck (Maureen) Potucek; nieces, Jeanne (John) Burdick, Elissa (Gary) Held; great nephews, Austin, Owen, Michael and Mark Potucek; nieces, Madelyn Potucek, Jordan Held, Bridgett (Dale) Krol, Jeanette (Brian) Hanna and Amanda (Eric) Gallo; great, great nieces and nephews, Paul, James, Makenna and Adam Krol, Kyleigh and Alex Hanna and Colton, Camden and Caden Gallo.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 10:00am at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 118th St. and Atchison Ave., Whiting with the Rev. Eric A. Kleinschmidt, officiating; interment to follow at Concordia Cemetery, Hammond; visitation at the Baran Funeral Home, 1235-119th St., Whiting on Friday from 4:00 to 8:00pm and at the church on Saturday morning from 9:00am to time of services. (due to the current health situation, face masks must be worn in the funeral home, social distancing is expected.). Expressions of sympathy may be placed on-line at www.baranfh.com.

Dorothy Potucek was born on April 15, 1928 and was a lifelong resident of the Whiting-Robertsdale community. She was a graduate of George Rogers Clark High School, Class of 1946. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in music from Ball State University and had taught music in central Indiana schools. She went on to study elementary education at Indiana University, South Bend and taught in South Bend and Hammond Schools. She received her Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling, becoming a counselor at Spohn Middle School, Hammond, where she ended her education career. Keeping her interest in music, she was a founding member of Sigma Alpha Iota NW Indiana Chapter. An active member of the St. Paul EV. Lutheran Church, Whiting, where she directed the church choir for many years and played in several local bands. An environmentalist before her time, Dorothy joined the Save the Dunes Council in the early ‘60s. She met many knowledgeable, dedicated and determined people working toward saving the remaining Dunes Country and establishing a National Lakeshore. For her work on the council, she was the recipient of the Paul H. Douglas Memorial Award. Dorothy learned to downhill ski and really enjoyed many ski trips out west and up north. She passed on the love of the sport to her family with now four generations of Potucek skiers. Summertime was travel time for Dorothy and her sister, Ann. They visited all 50 states, Mexico, Canadian Provinces, with many overseas trips. Devoted to her family, Dorothy will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the St. Paul EV. Lutheran Church, Whiting, or to the Alzheimer’s Assoc. would be appreciated. 

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