Bozidar "Bob" Momcilovic

Bozidar “Bob” Momcilovic, 95, passed away on May 12, 2026, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Bob is survived by his devoted wife, Svanhild (Rasmussen) of 72 years; his daughter, Elizabeth Momcilovic; his family in Norway, son, Gunnar (Karin) Momcilovic; his niece, Ingunn (Lyes) Oudia; grandson, Jarle (Hilde) Bekken; granddaughter, Lisa (Stian) Hatland; great granddaughters, Thea, Emely and Ronja; great-nieces, Cecilie Rasmussen, Jeanette Rasmussen and Kine Rasmussen. He is also survived by his family in Maryland, cousins, Alexander (Alina) Momchilovich, Anna Konshina, Ljiljana Cieplak, Christina Cieplak and Alexander Cieplak; very special friends, Jay and Melody Key of Tiburon, CA and many other dear friends. Bob was born on January 6, 1931, in Blata, a small village in the Lika region of Croatia, in what was the former Yugoslavia, to George and Katrina (Mesic) Momcilovic. He was a special gift to his parents being born on Serbian Orthodox Christmas Eve. He became an orphan at the age of 12 years old, when he lost both his mother, father and his beloved grandfather George Momcilovic, Sr., at the hands of the Nazi’s during WWII. Bob spent time in prisoner of war camps in his early teens and eventually immigrated to Norway in the early 1950’s, with a group of fellow refugees from eastern Europe, where he would meet Svanhild, his future wife. In 1959 he, his wife, daughter Elizabeth and his son, Gunnar came to America and settled in Gary, Indiana with friends. He worked for Budd Company as an electrician for over 20 years and built their home in Merrillville where he and his wife still live, until his death. Bob was preceded in death by his sisters-in-law; Ingrid Rasmussen and Ruth DeFries; nieces, Vivi Aabye, Ann-Kristin Rasmussen; nephews, Ty DeFries and Terry DeFries; cousins, Barbara Momchilovich and Illija Momchilovich and many close friends. He was a devoted family man who was self-taught and well-read and enjoyed working on his cars, doing repairs around the house and tinkering with things. He welcomed everyone into his home, loved to get together with family and friends for parties, especially around the holidays, barbeques and was always there to help his family, friends and neighbors, if they needed a hand. He and his wife, Svanhild, traveled after his retirement, going to Washington D.C., Maryland, Georgia, Florida, California, back to Yugoslavia and Norway to visit with family and friends. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, July 10, 2026, from 4 p.m. until the Time of Sharing at 5:30 p.m. at Burns Funeral Home & Crematory, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point, IN. Please join us in celebrating this truly remarkable man. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that those wishing to honor Bozidar’s memory consider donating to either The American Heart Association or The Alzheimer’s Association. Please visit Bob’s online obituary and guestbook at www.burnsfuneral.com.

Bozidar "Bob" Momcilovic

January 6, 1931 - May 12, 2026