Gary D. Nawrocki Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Gary D. Nawrocki, age 69, of Crown Point, passed away in his home on February 21, 2022 after a long battle with polycystic kidney disease. Gary was born in Chicago, IL on January 13, 1953 to Irene Sommerfeld (Harsany) and Chester Nawrocki. He grew up in Calumet City, IL along with his older brother Gene and his baby sister, Dawn. He attended TF North High School. After high school, he began his career working in the steel mills and retired from Inland Steel in 2016. He was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Ray Sommerfeld, his father and his daughter, Ryan Ly. He’s survived by his loving wife- Rhonda; son- Shawn Nawrocki (Margaret); daughters- Sarah Armstrong (Derek), Marcia Stasko (Joey), Kristal Tomlinson (Luis), Nikki Johnsen (Bill), Tina Nawrocki along with 21 grandchildren; brother- Gene Nawrocki (Patty); sister-Dawn Gignac (Scott), step brothers- Paul Sommerfeld (Betsy), John Sommerfeld (Debbie), David Sommerfeld (Jill); step sister- Sue Belo (John); niece- Trisha Hill, and his best friend, his dog- Cody. Always a baseball fan, he began in little league and continued playing baseball through high school. While at Inland Steel, he played softball for the company team, the Steelers, where he met his best friend Dave “Gonzo” Gonzalez. After his softball days ended, he continued to maintain his skills with very competitive Wiffle ball tournaments with anyone who would accept the challenge. Gary was a loyal Cubs fan and enjoyed games at Wrigley Field whenever possible. He met the love of his life Rhonda (Hill) Nawrocki in 1985 and they were married in 1987. Together they raised a large family of six daughters and one son, always accompanied by their favorite niece and a loyal family dog in Hammond Indiana before moving to Crown Point, later in life. Being a big fan of classic rock and the blues, Gary loved to play his guitar. In high school he was in a band with his brother. Later in life he loved nothing more than sharing his love of music with his only son. Gary will always be remembered for his sense of humor, his life of the party personality and of course his famous chili and stuffed pepper recipes. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 25, 2022 from 2 p.m. until the time of the funeral at 6 p.m. at Burns Funeral Home, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point, IN. Pastor John Starr officiating. www.burnsfuneral.com

Gary D. Nawrocki

January 13, 1953 - February 21, 2022