John Vrtikapa passed away Friday, Oct. 28 at the age of 83. He was born at home in Gary, In. February 27, 1939 to Bosiljka and Marko Vrtikapa, the first generation of his family to be born in the United States. He is preceded in death by both of his parents, his brothers Richard (Polly), Mirko (Jeri), Steve (Judy), and Gojko, sisters Anka (Ted) Rudman, Olga (Ted) Vukelich, Dessa (John) Bogosian, and brother in law George Rudman.
John graduated from Emerson High School in Gary in 1957. He then enlisted in the Coast Guard and was stationed in California during his service. When he returned to Indiana he began a long career at United States Steel. He worked there for over 40 years, until his retirement in 1999.
He was an adventurous soul. He enjoyed fishing out in the wilderness of Canada, camping, and flying. He took flying lessons and often flew to Fort Wayne, IN to visit his grandchildren. After retirement, he and his wife took many trips out west to the national parks. He and Sue also summered in Lake City, MN for 10 years. They made many dear friends there. If there was something he wanted to learn, all he had to do was read a book and he could do it, such as photography, both taking and developing the pictures, replacing an entire engine in a car, stained glass, and training hunting dogs. He was always a silent cheerleader at all of his children’s sporting events, saving the advice for the ride home. However, there was nothing he enjoyed more than spending time with his “little angels”, his grandchildren. He and Sue made every attempt to be at special events held in Michigan and Colorado for his 6 angels.
John will be remembered for many things, but most of all for his service to others. Whatever anybody needed, whenever they needed it, John made sure they got it. He even gave his friend his extra tank of gas when they were both boating, only to run out himself on the way back to shore! He enjoyed helping others and would be out early to snowblow for many of his neighbors, even into his eighties.
He will be dearly missed by his wife of 57 years, Sue, his daughter Lisa (Mike) Toth, his son Marko, and his little angels Rebecca and Alexandra Toth, Ciana, Anica, Jovo, and Nadia Vrtikapa. He is also survived by his many nieces and nephews, each of which he loved dearly and held a special place in his heart, his Kum Joe (Sophie) Nahod, and his sister Beba Rudman. It was John’s wish to have a private celebration of life in place of a funeral. In lieu of flowers, he would have appreciated a donation to any of the following organizations, St. Sava Kolo, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the Hobart Brickie lunch program, or the Hobart Food Pantry. Although John is gone from this world, his life lessons will live on in his children and grandchildren. Memory eternal.