Silent Keys NEVER FORGOTTEN
Dedicated to our friends, and our Mentors.
Jim Jesko, Sr. KB9MAS
December 9,1936 - March 28,2009
James J. Jesko Sr., 72, died at 12:36 PM on March 28, 2009, in LaPorte Hospital. Survivors include his wife, Hilda "Ann" Anderson; sons, James Jesko Jr., Jon (Jayne) Jesko, Jeffery Jesko and Joseph (Shannon) Jesko; nine grandchildren and one great- granddaughter; two sisters, Diane Hilton and Marsha (David) Kindrick; and brothers, Ronald (Alice) Jesko and Daniel (Nancy) Jesko. Jim was active member of the LaPorte Amateur Radio Club and a supportor of the two clubs merging.He was advid contestor, loved to work CW, and he always looked forward to Field Day and other club and events.Jim loved to work JOTA, permoteing Amateur Radio to the Boy Scouts.Jim's call now held by his son.
RONALD BROVIAK, WA9RON
July 26,1939 - November 8,2016
Ron was a active member of the LaPorte Amateur Radio Club. Ron was a mentor to so many amateurs, always willing to help when they needed it. Ron loved Field Day and bringing others together. If you had your mobile radio turned on, you were ashurd that he would be tossing out his call. Along with his son Michael, he was instrumental in bringing our club where it is today. Back in the day, so meny moons ago, he was active user of the AutoPatch.I remember one time he used it to order a pizza when it was legal to do so. (Before cell phones)
ALAN RUTZ WA9GKA
Alan a.k.a. PA0GKA. WORKED ON JFK's "soft talk" voice scrambler on Air Force 1 while he served in the Air Force. Alan was instrumental in keeping and improving the K9JSI repeater on the air over the years and was involved in packet radio in its early years. Alan also encouraged others to improve their technical skills, taught classes, ran VE test sessions, and was the radio officer for Civil Defense in LA Porte county. As a life long member of the LaPorte Amateur Radio Club, he was mentor to so many.
William Jones, K9URA
December 22,1919 - April 15, 2012
William E. Jones, age 92, of Michigan City, IN, passed away on Sunday April 15, 2012 at The Arbors of Michigan City. William was born on December 22, 1919 to Ralph G. and Myrtle (Chapman) Jones, in Houston Texas. On December 20, 1941 he married Thelma (Gasaway) Jones in Michigan City. Thelma preceded him in death in 1992. William is survived by six children, Allen (Carol) Jones of Michigan City, Dale (Lee) Jones of Bloomington, IN, Richard (Gina) Jones of Clanton, AL, Bruce D. (Diann) Jones of Michigan City, IN, Phyllis (Steve) Robowski of Silver City, NM, Mike (Diana) Jones of New Carlisle, IN. Five grandchildren, Tracy Kinsley, Lisa Ann Hill, Steve Jones, Abbey Jones, and Benny Jones, two great grandchildren, Owen and Ross Hill. He was a 1937 graduate of Springfield High School in Michigan City, he was a Charter member of The Michigan City Amateur Radio Club with a call sign K9URA. He was a WWII Purple Heart Veteran of Normandy Campaign and The Battle of the Bulge, member of VFW Post # 2536, The Moose Lodge of Michigan City, and St Paul Lutheran Church. Bill loved Amateur Radio and was mentor to so many. He had a passion for contesting. Bill passed his love for Amateur Radio to his son Allen, a life member of the club, and like his dad a mentor even today.
Jim Fonte, K9FI
March 13,1956 - February 18,2007
James M. Fonte, 50, passed away on Sunday, February 18, 2007, in his home. Jim was born on March 13, 1956, in Chicago, IL, to the late James V. and Marie B. (Rendak) Fonte. He moved to the Hudson Lake/New Carlisle area and lived there all of his life. On February 13, 1982, in New Carlisle, he married Billie J. Borders, who survives. Along with his wife of 25 years, he is survived by a daughter, Shaunna M. Fonte of LaPorte; three sons, Brian J. (Coweena) Borders of Mishawaka, Shane L. (Amy) Borders of Granger, IN, and Jamie R. (Jessica) Borders of South Bend; five grandchildren, Dalton and Tyler Borders, Michael Block, Brittany Meredith and Alison Graham; one great-grandchild; a sister, Aleta Fonte of Europe; and by a nephew, Alessandro Lenzen of Germany. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Marilyn. Mr. Fonte worked as a senior telecommunications consultant for AT&T in Chicago for six years. He was an amateur radio operator and his call sign was K9FI. He was a member of the Quarter Century Wireless Association and the Michigan City Amateur Radio Club. Jim enjoyed riding his motorcycle and playing poker and was a member of the NPPL. He especially loved his family and friends. Jim was the lead person installing the remotes and programming the voter for K9JSI repeater. Jim spend a number of hours at the repeater site tracking down interference problems when he discovered someone was detuning the cans on the W9LY repeater. Jim was a mentor and for those who knew him tried to learn as much as they could from him.
Thomas Travis WA9NGO
June 8,1949 - November 21,2023
C.T.R.C. Thomas Michael Travis (Retired U.S. Navy), 74, of La Porte, Indiana passed away Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Tom was born on June 8, 1949, in La Porte, Indiana to Robert and Mary Ann (Sudrovech) Travis. On July 20, 1985, he married Maureen Flynn who survives with their daughter, Brianne Travis of La Porte. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Barbara (Travis) Gullans, Mark Travis, infant, Charlie Travis; and nieces, Shannon Flynn and Colleen Dornburg. He will be missed by his brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
Tom served his country for 22 ½ years in the U.S. Navy as a Cryptologist. After the Navy he drove a bus for the La Porte School Corporation for 25 years. He was a member of Holy Family Parish, the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, and a Ham Radio Operator, “WA9NGO.”
Phillip
Bough, AC9WQ
February 7,1944 - July 26,2023
He was a retired
minister, Church of the Nazarene, who served in Indiana. He is survived by
his wife, Alice. He was a volunteer at RV On A Mission. A long time member
of the LaPorte Club.
.gif){kind=small}