Richard Duane Reese, 57, of La Porte, IN, passed away unexpectedly at 5:24 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, in La Porte County.
He was born Aug. 26, 1962, in Harvey, IL, to Roy Clifton and Bonnie Jean (Beasley) Reese.
Rich honorably served his country in the United States Navy as a Gunner’s Mate from 1983 to 1987. While he served, he was stationed in the Mediterranean. Rich experienced many riveting life adventures while enlisted in the Navy. He was part of a Navy tradition ceremony where he crossed the equator. Rich was nominated in 2018 for the Norton’s Writer’s Prize through the W.W. Norton & Company. He was an excellent and talented writer. He was attending Ivy Tech Community College, working toward an industrial technology degree, and had formerly attended Vincennes University. Rich was an industrial electrician for U.S. Steel and was a member of Steel Workers Union 1066. He was an exceptionally skilled swimmer who enjoyed swimming across the lakes in La Porte. Rich also enjoyed boating, camping and military history, and was a firearms enthusiast. Rich was a family-oriented man who adored spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Rich will be dearly missed by his family and friends.
On Nov. 20, 1987, in Wheatfield, IN, he married his wife of 32 years, Christine Louise (Smith) Reese, who survives.
Also surviving are his three children, William (Stephanie) Reese, Katharine (Carltin) Holt and Megan Reese, all of La Porte; two brothers, Dan (Karen) Reese of Rensselaer, IN, and Michael (Angie) Reese of Ocala, FL; one brother-in-law, Alan Smith of La Porte; one sister-in-law, Susan (Jefferson) Long of Chapin, SC; six grandchildren, Mersaydes, Gerlinde, Jason, Madeline, Benton, and Ronald; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his maternal grandparents, William Oscar and Lela Beasley, and paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Leroy Reese.
A funeral celebrating his life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, at Lakeview Funeral Home and Crematory, La Porte, with Pastor Bob Vale officiating. Visitation and viewing will be held from noon until the service at the funeral home. A military honors service will be conducted by the La Porte Honor Guard.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the family’s GoFundMe Page, Reese Family, gf.me/u/w9w9t5 in memory of Richard Duane Reese.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com.