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Donald Banik Obituary
Donald M. Banik, 70, of Valparaiso, formerly of Whiting, retired, Hammond Fire Dept., passed away Monday, August 18, 2008 at the University of Chicago Hospital. He is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Dolores (nee Kaminsky); loving father of Danny (Kathy) Banik, WFD of Valparaiso, David (Mary Kay) Banik of Whiting, Deanna (Art Krawczyk) Panik of Middleburg, FL, Dennis (Patti) Banik, HFD of Hammond and Doreen (Tony) Raymond of Wheatfield; adoring papa of Dyllin, Johanna, Kayla, Samantha, Meghan, Rocco, Alyssa, Katelyn, Hannah and Joey; cherished brother of Phyllis (Tony) Dziepak and Paula (late John) Molenda both of Schererville, Ron (Cindi) Banik of Hawaii; dearest brother-in-law of Dorothy (Michael) Sulich and Raymond (Susan) Kaminsky both of Whiting; dear uncle of many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Friday, August 22, 2008, 9:30 a.m. at the Baran Funeral Home, 1235-119th St., Whiting. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Whiting, with the Rev. John E. Kalicky, C.PP.S., officiating. Interment, Calumet Park Cemetery, Merrillville. Visitation at the funeral home Thursday from 4:00-9:00 p.m. Members of the parish will offer prayers at the funeral home Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Don Banik was born on December 12, 1937 to Michael and Mary (Solar) Banik and was a lifelong resident of the Calumet Region. He was a graduate of Whiting High School, Class of 1955, a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Whiting and Sacred Heart Church in Wanatah, IN, a Veteran of the US Navy and a member of the American Legion, Whiting Post 80 (memorial service Thursday at 7:30pm). Don retired from the Hammond Fire Department as a captain following 30 years of loyal and dedicated service and was a member of the International Association of Firefighters, Local 556. He was also the owner of the Weatherguard Co. which had serviced many homes in the Whiting, Robertsdale and North Hammond neighborhoods in its 30 years of existence. Don's greatest passion was the great outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited, serving as a committeeman of the Calumet Chapter for 20 years. He was also known for being a great cook, especially the perch he would catch on Cass Lake in Minnesota, spending summers there for over 30 years. Don was a devoted husband, father and "papa" and will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him. (219)659-4400
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Memories and Condolences
for Donald Banik
Loretta (Chorba) Lanfear
September 2, 2008
Danny, Mrs. Banik and family,
Words can't express how sorry I am to hear of Mr. Banik's passing. He was a kind and friendly man that I remember fondly. Please know you have been in my thoughts. Always, Loretta
Cindy (Kulas) Miles
August 26, 2008
We are very sorry to hear of your loss. Growing up, our families shared many good times. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
August 25, 2008
He left us quietly,
His thoughts unknown.
But he left us memories,
We are proud to own,
So treasure him Lord,
In your garden of rest.
For when on earth,
He was one of the best.
Days of sadness still cover us,
Secret tears still do often flow,
But memories keep you ever near us.
Your safely home in Heaven we know.
We love you,
We miss you,
Always in our thoughts and forever in our hearts.
Bill Mercer
August 24, 2008
To the Banik Family
Very sorry to hear of your loss. My prayers are with you.
Karen (Kasper) Markovich
August 22, 2008
Dear Danny, Mrs. Banik & the Banik Family:
I was out of town only to return to the news of Don's passing. I know what a great loss this will be for your whole family. Please know you will be in my thoughts & prayers.
With Deepest Sympathy,
Rob & Amy Mecklin
August 22, 2008
Mrs Banik and family:
Our heartfelt sympathies go out to you, I know what it feels like to lose someone you love, its anything but fun. I will lift your name up in prayer on Sunday.
Kymberli Janek
August 22, 2008
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Deide (Jakubielski) Fischer
August 22, 2008
Doreen, Dennis, and family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time of loss. May your dad's great memories and smile bring comfort to you all at this time of sorrow.
Nancy and Jeffery Stoll
August 22, 2008
Very sorry to hear of your loss. Our sincere condolences and prayers are with all of you. Take comfort in knowing that now you have a special guardian angel to watch over you.
August 21, 2008
ASKING FOR A BETTER BROTHER AND FRIEND COULD HAVE ONLY BEEN DON.
Tom and MaryBeth Markovich
August 21, 2008
Dee and family,
Your family is such a special part of our lives and our kids lives.. We shared many laughs and good times. There isn't enough space to describe the many memories we have of Don. Our Robertsdale group was something else. Christmas parties at station2 shift dinners Don is going to be greatly missed. Our love and prayers are with you.
Norb, Mari and Molly Grenchik
August 21, 2008
Dear Mrs Banik and Family
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all
Al & Dawn (Downing) Czapczyk
August 21, 2008
Our deepest sympathies to the Banik family. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Don was a great friend and he touch the lives of those he met. We use to compare our house building stories and he will all be remembered in our hearts.
Lisa (Latiak) & Corky Harretos
August 21, 2008
Banik Family-
You are all in our deepest thoughts at the time of sorrow. Anything we can do, just call. Growing up down the street, Mr. Banik was like my own Dad-but "he told the jokes" as we always said. Obtain strength through his memory. We love you all and are like my second family!
Sue, Jason, Tyler, Austin & Summer~Lynn Keller
August 21, 2008
They say "Your children are a reflection of you", and from the reflection I see, Mr. Banik was a wounderful, kind, loving man.
Remember all of the precious times and live a full life until that day when he meets you at the gates with open arms.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Jennifer McGrath
August 21, 2008
Our deepest sympathies to the Banik family. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Love, Jennifer and Kaylene.
Michelle Sidders & Family
August 21, 2008
Dear Banik Family, Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of grief. Just remember:
Those we love don’t go away,
They walk beside us everyday,
Unseen, unheard, but always near,
Still loved, still missed and very dear."
"Death leaves a heartache
No one can heal;
Love leaves a memory
No one can steal."
My family enjoyed the times Mr. B came to Florida to visit his daughter and granddaughter. Even though it was short each time he left an impact on everyone he met.
August 21, 2008
Take comfort in knowing that now you have a special guardian angel to watch over you.
TONY AMENDOLA AND VICKI BROWN
August 21, 2008
The loss of someone so close is difficult to bear. We share your grief.
M. Baez
August 21, 2008
My deepest sympathy to your family. In times such as these, I find comfort from the Holy Scriptures. Psalms 55:22 says, "Throw your burden upon God himself, and he himself will sustain you. Never will he allow the righteous one to totter." I hope you too can find hope and comfort from the Bible.
Lane & Kathryn Sieman
August 21, 2008
Our deepest sympathies to the whole Banik Family. I have many fond memories growing up on Stanton and many of them are of "Mr. Banik". I know he will be missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Rick Zuidema
August 21, 2008
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
George Pate
August 21, 2008
To the man who showed me Minnesota and shared his passion for the outdoors, I will forever be grateful. I have many great memories of the weeks we spent together in Minnesota.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family that I grew up with. We certainly lost "one of a kind".
Ray and Paulette Strabavy
August 21, 2008
Dolores and Family - We are so deeply saddened by Don's passing. How many many hours of fun did we share over the years listening to his stories. I will never forget his "Elvis" tale. I would make him repeat this one so many times over the years, and the story never changed. He was a wonderful husband, a great father and grandfather. He was also a wonderful friend. All of you are in our thoughts and prayers. Don will never be forgotten by our family. May he rest in the arms of Our Lord.
Scott & Lisa Hrabovsky
August 21, 2008
Dan & Kathy,
Our deepest sympathy.
Desa & Sam Radowick
August 21, 2008
Dear Mrs. Banik and Family:
We are so sorry to hear of Mr. Banik's passing. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Michael Irvine Family
August 21, 2008
Please accept our deepest sympathies.
K.G.,Kelly,Kyle,Kevin Kompier
August 21, 2008
May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
The Remmers Family
August 20, 2008
To your family we offer our dearest sympathies. Thank you for all the memories you have provided our family, especially to Clarke. May you grow in faith and love through these times. We wished we could have attended the services. We are with you in prayer and love.
Tom and Theresa Bubacz
August 20, 2008
Dear Dolores and Family,
We send our deepest sympathy. I enjoyed working with Don for many years at the station. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Richard Kulas
August 20, 2008
Dee and family: Rich and I want to express our deepest sorrow in hearing of Don's passing away. We cherish our good times with all of you when we were in Whiting
Robert Jurkowski
August 20, 2008
My deepest sympathy to the Banik family
Sheila Lucas
August 20, 2008
Dan and Kathy you have my deepest sympathy. A loss is never easy. My condolense to the entire Banik family. I know that he will be greatly missed.
Josh Stearns
August 20, 2008
I have many memories of Don at the Horseshoe. We shared many conversations together and I will never forget them. My deepest regrets to the whole family. The world lost a great man.
Josh Stearns
Chris Campbell
August 20, 2008
It was an honor to know Don, even for a brief time. I don't think I ever met anyone quite as kind and friendly. He will be missed. You and your family are in my thoughts at this sad time.
Chris Campbell
Thomas Przybyl
August 20, 2008
Mrs Banik and Family,
I went to school with David and your husband did some work on my Mothers Properties. He was a great guy to work with. He was a special man. You have our deepest sympathy
jeannine compton
August 20, 2008
dear danny and family
please accept our deepest sympathy at this very difficult time.
love, jeannine hajduch-compton and family
Ruth Woodhall
August 20, 2008
Mr. Banik was a wonderful person, I had the pleasure of knowing him while working at Richway in Whiting, and again recently while he was at Porter..Always a smile and a kind word..
He will be missed!
Yvonne Peterson
August 20, 2008
Dee and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this very sad time. Don was one of a kind, a genuinely sincere, giving person, and he will be deeply missed by so many.
I have a special fondness for the many good times we shared on Cass Lake. My hope is that they have fishing boats in Heaven.
With deepest sympathy,
Elaine Gundacker
August 20, 2008
Don Banik was a special "institution" here at the Horseshoe Resort. There will be a huge void in the weeks that he was always here for years to come. Know that we grieve for you, his dear wife, children and grandchildren. It was so evident how great a family man he was.
Clark, Elaine and Josh
Amanda (Watts) Rankin
August 20, 2008
Dear Banik Family - I am so sorry to hear of cousin Donald's passing. He was a larger than life man and I know he will be greatly missed. My deepest condolences to all.
The Janek Family
August 20, 2008
Those we love do not go away,
they walk beside us everyday.
Unseen, unheard but always near,
still loved, still missed, still very dear.
Our memories will never die,
as time goes on and days go by.
Your presence we miss,
your memories we treasure.
Loving you always,
and forgetting you never.
August 20, 2008
To the Banik Family-
We are so sorry to hear about your loss. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. We have many fond memories growing up on Stanton Ave.- Love, The Grenchik's
Brad & Carol (Zebracki) Stelow
August 20, 2008
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort and peace. With deepest sympathy.
sheila+carly+joshua cribari-jancho
August 20, 2008
to the banik family,
i am so sorry for your loss and will keep your family in my prayers.
Ruthann (Bobos) Shirk
August 20, 2008
Mr. Banik was more than my father's best friend and my best friend's father. He was family. He treated us like gold, always welcoming us into his home, always had good food cooking. We never even knocked on their door before entering, and he never minded us raiding his refridgerater. I thank him for keeping my Dad in line as they laughed and talked for hours in his fishing boat, I thank him for being my second father as I was growing up. He is so loved and we will miss him dearly.
Shawn Sieman
August 20, 2008
Dear Mrs. Banik, Danny, David, Dennis, Deanna, Doreen, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Jim Vrabel
August 20, 2008
Banik Family,
In your time of need you are in our prayers.
Jim, Cathy and Andrew Vrabel
Aimee & Don Koerner
August 20, 2008
We are very sorry for your loss. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you.
JEEP AND AMANDA PUTZ
August 20, 2008
OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY GOES OUT TO THE BANIK FAMILY. DON WAS A GREAT GUY TO KNOW AND A GREAT NEIGHBOR. WE WILL MISS HIM TERRIBLY. THE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT HIM!!!!
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