William H. Harris

William H. Harris
Dec. 1, 1931 - June 20, 2015

William "Bill" Harold Harris, 83, Michigan City, Ind., passed away Saturday, June 20, 2015, at 1:43 a.m. in Hospice Franciscan Communities, Michigan City.
He was born Dec. 1, 1931, in Michigan City to the late Willard M. and E. Irene (McAlpine) Harris. He was married on June 18, 1955, to Patricia Ann Gruse in St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Keith (Donna) Harris of Michigan City; daughters Susan (Tim) Vail of Michigan City, Anita (H. Bret) Young of Madison, Ala., and Kathleen Harris of South Bend, Ind.; grandsons Zachary Vail of Lawrenceville, Ill., and Ethan Vail of Michigan City; granddaughters Rebecca (Rob) Ulrich of LaPorte, Ind., Regina Koloj of Kingsford Heights, Ind., and Rachelle (Evan Smith) Liete of Bradenton, Fla.; great-grandchildren Mathew, Evan, Emma, Nathaniel, Robert, Kara, Ted and Kaylee; sister Barbara (Jack) Mickey of Estes Park, Colo.; brother-in-laws Robert Decker of Hartford, Conn., and Steve Banic Jr. of Bourbon, Ind.; sister-in-law Doris Harris of Michigan City; and several nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by his son, John Harris; brother, Verne Harris; and sisters Marjorie Hefner, Margaret Decker, Jane Banic and Dorothy Harris.
Bill is a 1950 graduate of Isaac C. Elston High School and obtained an associate degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University. He was manager of engineering standards, Pullman Standard Car Mfg. Co.; project engineer and chief engineer for new cars, Evans Railcar; and project engineer, Thrall Car Mfg. He obtained patents for technology in freight car design and was a consulting engineer for rail cars.
He was a proud Army veteran of the Korean War, serving as a Cpl. in the military police for 45th and 3rd Infantry Divisions. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and LaPorte Co. Patriotic Service Medal.
Bill was a longtime French horn player, beginning in the fifth grade with the Elston Jr. High band and then Elston Sr. High School band and orchestra. After his Korean War service he played with the Michigan City Symphony, LaPorte Symphony Orchestra as a charter member for 30 years, Michigan City Municipal Band for more than 50 years, and was past president and uniform manager of the band.
He was a member of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church and had been eucharistic minister for 30 years, an usher and a member of the Parish Finance Committee. He was also a member and past president of Michigan City Kiwanis; life member of Michigan City Historical Society; member with his wife on the Old Lighthouse Museum Restoration Committee and a docent at the museum; member of Korean War Veterans and John Franklin Miller American Legion Post 37; VFW 2536 life member; president of OP33 3rd Infantry Division; member of Society of Indiana Pioneers, Indiana Historical Society and LaPorte County, Ind., Genealogical Society.
"Pa," as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren called him, enjoyed traveling and visiting ancestral homes and villages in the United States, Canada, England and Scotland as well as his wife's in Poland and Germany. He was interested in history, especially military and family history, and was an avid Cubs and Purdue football fan.