Eugene I. Varda

Eugene I. Varda, 87, of Lafayette, IN, formerly of Kingsford, passed away on Sunday, August 31, 2014 at Indiana University Health Arnett Hospital in Lafayette, IN. He was born September 28, 1926 in Kingsford, MI, son of the late Peter and Eva (Jackola) Varda. Eugene graduated from Kingsford High School in 1944 and went on to complete three years of college at Northern Michigan University in Marquette. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of WWII. In 1952 Eugene was employed at Graver Tank, Inc. in Chicago, IL where he worked as a Draftsman for 10 years. He was hired by Pullman Standard, Inc. in 1962 as a special designer and was later promoted to Mechanical Engineer after he developed several patents for railroad coal cars and Amtrak passenger cars. Eugene retired in 1986. Following his retirement, he became active in the pasty-making fundraising projects at the Breen Senior Center in Kingsford. He was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Iron Mountain and sang in the Senior Choir. He was also active with the VFW, the American Legion, and had 22 years perfect attendance as a member of the St John's Lions Club in St. John, IN. During his tenure in the Lions Club, he served in every official position in the Club. Eugene also served as Assistant Scoutsmaster for the St. John troop of Boy Scouts of America. During his lifetime, he enjoyed stream and lake fishing, hunting, camping, jig and fly tying as well as wood carving. Eugene Varda is survived by a son, Andrew (Noreen) Varda of DeKalb, IL; two daughters, Katherine Varda of Three Oaks, MI, and Karen Varda of Evansville, IN; two grandsons, Benjamin and Aidan Varda; a sister, Lois Outcelt of Niagara, WI; a brother, Norris Varda; and several nieces and nephews. Eugene was preceded in death by a brother, Alan Varda and parents. Visitation will be from 10:00am to 12:00 noon on Thursday, September 4, 2014, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Iron Mountain. Funeral Services will follow at 12:00 noon at the church. Rev. Lee Liverance will officiate. Burial will be in Norway Township Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Eugene Varda online at http://www.ernashfuneralhomes.com/. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.

Eugene I. Varda

September 28, 1926 - August 31, 2014