Joseph E. Gaines

Joseph Gaines age 84 of Merrillville,In passed away February 1,025. He was born March 31, 1940 to the late Norman and Gertrude Lee Gaines in Gary, Indiana. Joe graduated from Froebel High School with the class of 1959. He married at a young age to his late wife Stella Hunter and five children were born and he raised them all as a single father after her early death. He later married Priscilla Gaines and shared 7 years with her. Joe was a steel worker for Bethlehem Steel for 25 years and skilled interior decorator in a family painting business with his uncle Fred Levy. He was active in his community with Momentous Jades, security guard for Mayor Richard Hatcher and his favorite pastime was fishing. He was preceded in death by his mother and father Gertrude and Norman Gaines, three brothers, Albert, Fredrick and Robert; two loving sisters, Delores Wood and Jessie Dixon. Family was at the heart of Joe's life. He cherished many happy times of the four generations that were created through him. He is survived by his five children, Laurita Gaines of MN, Mary Dusek of Illinois, Joseph Gaines Jr of Indianapolis, Angela Gaines of Texas and Eric Gaines of Nevada. He has a devoted son in law, Leslie Dusek also from Illinois, Joe was a fun and loving grandfather to his seven grandchildren, Telesa Lewis of TX, Curtis Frazier of MN, Rickey, Lewis, Rashuad Lewis and Rakisha Gaines of MN Dwaunne Terry and Tenequa Terry of MN. His third generation is his great grandchildren, Ameera, Laila and Kyndell of TX and Willie, Trey, Jade, Zahir, Isis, Anisa, Danyelle, Canon and Malcolm, all from MN. He became a great-great grandfather of a fourth generation with Key'lani and Promyse of MN. He is also survived by his brother, Nathaniel and (Pamela) Gaines and sister, Leona (Tiny) Gaines , God-Sister, Ruthie (Otis) Bell, Best Special Friend, Dorothy Haywood and three special nieces, Tasha Nelson, Tammy Tate and Chalise Gaines, and more numerous nieces and nephews and friends. Wake Friday February 28,2025 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Funeral 11:00 a.m. St. Paul M.B. Church 2300 Grant St. Gary,In. Services Entrusted to Powell-Coleman Funeral Home.