Chesterton Tribune

Donald Gourley dies at 86

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Longtime Northwest Indiana resident, Donald D. Gourley, of Dune Acres, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2009 surrounded by his devoted family at VNA Hospice Center, Valparaiso. He was 86.

He was born April 28, 1923 in Gary, the son of Leonard and Sylvia (Downey) Gourley, both of whom preceded him in death.

Don is survived by his wife Clarice (Gustafson) Gourley, of Dune Acres.

He is also survived by children, Dr. Thomas Gourley of Berkeley, Calif., Donna (Zachary) Malham, of Denver, Colo., Susan (Vincent) Pinelli, of Glenview, Ill., Tim Gourley, of Portland, Ore.; grandchildren, Gato, Flynn, Kristen, Lea, Nichole, Brian, and Danny; and two brothers, Jim and John.

He was also preceded in death by his step-mother, Theresa and his brother, Bill.

Don was a graduate of Horace Mann High School, Gary, in 1941 and was graduated from Indiana University in 1947, with a degree in business. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Upon his return from the Pacific Theater, he was selected as Gary's Outstanding Young Man in 1952. He served as executive VP of Gary Jr. Chamber of Commerce, past president and longtime member of Gary Kiwanis. He retired from Sears in 1989 after 42 years of service as national advertising department manager of marketing.

He served as a Boy Scout Troop Leader and Little League Manager. Served as Town Park Commissioner of Dune Acres, planned community annual events. He organized breakfast meetings at Sunrise Family Restaurant in Chesterton and Horace Mann and Sears retirees breakfast meetings at the Chili Bowl in Valparaiso.

He was a member of Augsburg EV Lutheran Church, Life-member of Roosevelt Masonic Lodge, #716, F&AM, Hobart, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of South Bend and member of the Shrine Club.

Funeral services, Pastor Erik Bernth officiating, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 13 at Augsburg EV Lutheran Church, 100 N. Mineral Springs Road, Porter. Private family services for interment will be at Calumet Park Cemetery, Merrillville.

The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 12 at White-Love Funeral Home, 525 S. 2nd St., Chesterton and Wednesday, 10 a.m. until time of service at Augsburg Church. Masonic memorial service will be at 7 p.m., Tuesday at White-Love Funeral Home.

Memorials may be given to VNA Hospice Center, 501 Marquette, St., Valparaiso, IN 46383, or to Augsburg EV Lutheran Church, 100 N. Mineral Springs Road, Porter, IN 46304.

For information, please call White-Love Funeral Home 926-1309.

 

Posted 5/11/2009