Martell "Marty" Royer

Martell “Marty” Royer, of Merrillville passed away on May 18, 2023. Marty was raised in Hammond and graduated from Morton High School in 1959. He graduated from Western Michigan University, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1965 with an accounting degree. He graduated from Indiana University School of Law in 1969. He practiced law in Lake County, Indiana and was a member of the Lake County Bar Association for over 50 years. In addition to his private practice, he served several positions in Lake County including: Lake County felony trial deputy on Henry Kowalczyk’s staff, prosecutor for Hobart City Court, Legal Advisor to 2 Lake County Sheriffs & a public defender in the Lake County Juvenile Court. Marty was integral in forming the Hessville Historical Society & saving “The Little Red Schoolhouse” in Hessville in 1972. He volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of Hammond & was elected President when the national organization asked them to build a new clubhouse more centrally located near Hammond High. Marty was an avid golfer & a longtime member of Innsbook Country Club. In fact, he was President in 1987-88 when the Club changed its name from Gary Country Club to Innsbrook Country Club. One of his most enjoyable rounds of golf was when he played with Lee Trevino in The Western Open Pro-Am at Butler National in Oakbrook. He was also a philatelist, collecting U.S. postage stamps issued from 1847 to 1857. He was a member of the U.S. Philatelic Classic Society, the Collectors Club of New York and the Collectors Club of Chicago. He was also an avid Indiana Univ. Basketball fan. He was preceded in death by his parents Don & Edith, his sister Tona Ordyna and brother in law Richard Ordyna. Marty is survived by his wife & best friend of 60 years Kathleen “Kathy” Royer and their daughter Dr. Susan Royer of Merrillville, IN; his brother Ron (Phyllis Howlett) Royer of Abiquiu, NM ; his sister Deena (Jim) Zieglowsky of Mountain Green, UT; brothers in law Greg (Mary) Kwasny of Chesterfield, MO & Stan (Carol) Kwasny of St. Louis, MO; sister in law Mary Beth (Pat) Dugan of St Pete Beach, FL; and many nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to visit with Marty’s family on Friday, June 23, 2023 from 4-6 p.m. at Burns Funeral Home, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point, IN. A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 9.am. until the time of the memorial service at 10 a.m. directly at Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church, 8303 W Taft Street, Merrillville, IN. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Boys and Girls Club of Hammond. It’s been said that Marty’s favorite color was plaid. Feel free to wear plaid to honor him.