Joseph P. Ornelas

JOSEPH P. ORNELAS, M.D. Merrillville, Indiana Age 88, passed away Tuesday, November 28, 2006. Joseph was born in Mexico on October 27, 1918. He was the son of Pablo Ornelas and Francisca Chavez, both of San Francisco del Rincon of the state of Guanajuato. The family moved to Gary, Indiana in 1920. Joseph attended primary, secondary and high school in Gary, graduating from Lew Wallace High School in 1936. He attended Indiana University and graduated with a B.A. in Chemistry in 1941 and a M.D. from Indiana University Medical School in Indianapolis in 1943. Dr. Ornelas served with the 138th evacuation hospital in Germany. After the surrender of Germany, he was transferred to the Pacific operations and assigned to the 61st Special Service Engineer Unit, the first troops in the Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto area. After the Japanese surrender, he was later transferred to the military government unit of the Island of Kyushu, where both atomic bombs were dropped to force the surrender. Dr. Ornelas served as the Chief medical officer of the military government group. He was discharged from this assignment in November 1946. Following his military service, he became associated with Dr. Yarrington and Dr. Vye in Gary in January 1947. After six years, he established an office in the Village Shopping Center in Glen Park. In 1960, he was associated with fifteen other physicians who built and developed the Ross Clinic in Merrillville. Dr. Ornelas practiced there until his retirement in 1988. Throughout his practice, he was associated with the medical staffs of both St. Mary Mercy Hospital and Methodist Hospital. He was on the councils of both hospitals for several terms. Joseph served as President of the Staff of St. Mary Mercy Hospital. He also was on the Council for the Lake County Medical Society for several terms. Dr. Ornelas was a member of St. Mark Church from the beginning of the Church until 1960 when he became a member of SS. Peter and Paul Church in Merrillville. Joseph was preceded in death by his siblings, Connie Garcia, David, Arthur and Gilbert Ornelas. Joseph is survived by his wife, Nina J. Ornelas of Merrillville; 4 children, Janie (Bob) Hacker of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, Barbara (Tom) Robinson of Indianapolis, Robert (Connie) Ornelas of Houston, Texas, and John (Faith) Ornelas of Crown Point; 9 grandchildren, Jeff Hacker, Julie Campbell, Laura Kaniuk, Michael Robinson, Tricia Robinson, Derrick Ornelas, Joe Ornelas, Zack Ornelas and Katrina Ornelas; 10 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; 4 sisters, Rachel (late Herbert) Schutz of Merrillville, Isabel (Frank) Ramirez of Merrillville, Frances (John) Sosinski of Michigan City, and Ann (Jerry) Vale of Valparaiso; 1 brother, Thomas (Linda) Ornelas of Valparaiso; sisters-in-law, Martha, Barbara and Rene Ornelas; numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Friday. December 1, 2006, at 11:30 a.m. at Geisen Funeral Home, 7905 Broadway, Merrillville, at SS. Peter and Paul Church for a 12:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Reverend Dennis J. Teles officiating. Entombment to follow at Calumet Park Cemetery, Merrillville. The family will welcome friends at the Geisen Funeral Home, Merrillville Chapel, Thursday, November 30th, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. A wake service will be offered Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to SS. Peter and Paul Church Renovation Fund in Memory of Dr. Joseph P. Ornelas.