Colonel Lowell E. "Bud" Enslen

COL. LOWELL E. "BUD" ENSLEN HAMMOND/MERRILLVILLE Colonel Lowell E. "Bud" Enslen, age 83, a longtime resident of Hammond and Merrillville, passed away on Saturday, May 15, 2010. He was born on April 11, 1927 in Gary, IN the son of Lowell R. and Carol N. Enslen. Col. Enslen graduated from Hobart High School and from Valparaiso University with honors. Col. Enslen always had a keen interest in the military, and served in four branches of the Armed Forces. He joined the Merchant Marine (Coast Guard) at age 16. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet at age 17, then joined the regular Army of the United States, and finally enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, advancing from Corporal to Colonel when he retired in 1987. During his service, he served in the Pacific Theatre during World War II and during the Korean War. Following his military service he became a prominent lawyer in Hammond for over 58 years and was the senior partner of Enslen, Enslen, and Matthews of Hammond for over 28 years. He was active with the Hammond Bar Association and served as President, the Lake County Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association and was a life member, the American Bar Association and was a life member, was a fellow in the Indiana State Bar Foundation, a member of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, the American Trial Lawyers Association and was a life member, and the Legal Aid Society of Greater Hammond and served as President for 18 years, the national president and life member of the Sigma Delta Kappa Law Fraternity, and president of the Sigma Delta Kappa Foundation. He was a Commissioner for the Lake County Judicial Nominating Committee for five years, served as the Dyer Town Attorney for 13 years, the Dyer Plan Commission Attorney for four years, the St. John Township Attorney for four years, and the Cedar Lake Town Attorney for four years. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post 6448 in Dyer, a life member of the American Legion Post 16 in Hammond, a life member of the Marine Corps League in Griffith, a life member of the Marine Corps Reserve Officers Association, a life member of the Reserve Officers Association, a member of the Retired Officers Association of Indianapolis, and served as the U.S. Naval Academy Information Officer. He was a life member of the Elks Lodge 1152, served as President of the Trade Winds Rehabilitation Center, as president of the Community Chest of Greater Hammond, and a member of the F.O.P. Lodge 51 of Hammond for 44 years. Col. Enslen also served as a director and general council for the Lake Federal Savings and Loan Association. He was well respected and was a good father, brother, uncle, and friend to all. Lowell Enslen is survived by his son, Bradford Enslen of Burns Harbor; his sister, Dolores E. Lalevich of Wanatah; his former wife, Dorothy Enslen of Dyer; nephews: James Jordan of Nashville, TN, Thomas Lalevich of Fort Wayne and Anthony Lalevich of Wanatah; godchildren: Scott Dibble of New Haven, Jake Moffett of Dallas, TX and Claire Wienert of CA. A visitation for Colonel Lowell E. Enslen will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at Rees Funeral Home – Hobart Chapel, 600 West Old Ridge Road, Hobart. A morning visitation for Colonel Enslen will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 20, 2010 with funeral services beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Rees Funeral Home. Burial will be at Calumet Park Cemetery in Merrillville. Memorials in Lowell's memory may be made to the National Museum of the Marine Corps and Heritage Center. For further information please call Rees Funeral Home at (219) 942-2109 or online at www.reesfuneralhomes.com.