Robert D. LaBelle Sr., age 101, recently of Schererville, IN passed away July 18, 2017. He was born in Chicago to Berenice Hastings and Arthur LaBelle on June 22, 1916. He graduated from Chicago's Parker High School in 1934. As part of the Greatest Generation he persevered through the Great Depression and a six year battle with tuberculosis contracted while working as a conductor on Chicago's Street Cars. He survived the Depression and early years of marriage providing for his family in any way he could with no job being too menial. He worked in Chicago's Union Stockyards, at his beloved White Castle, and other burger joints as a grill cook and counterman often handling the small shops by himself. In High school he learned to play the clarinet and saxophone. As a teenager and young adult, he performed in Chicago's infamous taxi dance halls and South side neighborhood bars. it was in one of those bars, the Bungalow Tavern, that he met a pretty waitress and love of his life, Betty Murray. He was an excellent student in high school, mastered the arts of mechanical drawing which he used as the foundation for his career as a draftsman, estimator and business owner. In 1949, he moved the family out of Chicago to Hammond, IN. He worked for Gannon Sheet Metal in East Chicago for 15 years and in 1969 founded LaBelle Sheet Metal in Lansing, IL. Bob was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years, Betty (Murray); sister, Dolce; brothers: Dick and Jack; daughter-in-law, Gail "Doughty" LaBelle; and grandsons: David Marshall and Mike Dernulc. He is survived by his children: Judy (Ron) Marshall, Barbara (Dernulc) Dobrowski (Mark); Robert LaBelle Jr.; and James (Kathy) LaBelle; fourteen grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 1:00 PM at the Lincoln Ridge Funeral Home 7607 W. Lincoln Hwy., Schererville (Rt. 30 East of Cline Ave.) Friends are invited to visit with Robert's family on Saturday from 11:00 AM til time of service. At rest, Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Robert D. LaBelle Sr., age 101, recently of Schererville, IN passed away July 18, 2017. He was born in Chicago to Berenice Hastings and Arthur LaBelle on June 22, 1916. He graduated from Chicago's Parker High School in 1934. As part of the Greatest Generation he persevered through the Great Depression and a six year battle with tuberculosis contracted while working as a conductor on Chicago's Street Cars. He survived the Depression and early years of marriage providing for his family in any way he could with no job being too menial. He worked in Chicago's Union Stockyards, at his beloved White Castle, and other burger joints as a grill cook and counterman often handling the small shops by himself. In High school he learned to play the clarinet and saxophone. As a teenager and young adult, he performed in Chicago's infamous taxi dance halls and South side neighborhood bars. it was in one of those bars, the Bungalow Tavern, that he met a pretty waitress and love of his life, Betty Murray. He was an excellent student in high school, mastered the arts of mechanical drawing which he used as the foundation for his career as a draftsman, estimator and business owner. In 1949, he moved the family out of Chicago to Hammond, IN. He worked for Gannon Sheet Metal in East Chicago for 15 years and in 1969 founded LaBelle Sheet Metal in Lansing, IL. Bob was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years, Betty (Murray); sister, Dolce; brothers: Dick and Jack; daughter-in-law, Gail "Doughty" LaBelle; and grandsons: David Marshall and Mike Dernulc. He is survived by his children: Judy (Ron) Marshall, Barbara (Dernulc) Dobrowski (Mark); Robert LaBelle Jr.; and James (Kathy) LaBelle; fourteen grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 1:00 PM at the Lincoln Ridge Funeral Home 7607 W. Lincoln Hwy., Schererville (Rt. 30 East of Cline Ave.) Friends are invited to visit with Robert's family on Saturday from 11:00 AM til time of service. At rest, Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
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