Joan Gillespie (nee Kolbus), 91, of St. John, Indiana, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 11, 2025. She was born February 9, 1934, in East Chicago, Indiana, to Louis and Alvina Kolbus. She was a graduated of the Hammond Technical High School Class of 1954.
Following high school graduation, Joan worked for Edward Valve and Graver Tank in East Chicago. She went on to work for Welch Brothers Trucking as a billing clerk. Her final employment was with the School City of Hammond where she worked in the offices at Morton High School, Scott Middle School, and Harding Elementary School.
Joan’s pride and joy were her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Nothing gave her greater pleasure than spending time with them and watching them in their various activities. One of her greatest gifts was creating quilts for her family. She enjoyed family gatherings, playing cards, shopping, going out to lunch, and visiting with friends.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband Arthur and her daughter Sandra Pyle. She is survived by three daughters Susan (David) Schweitzer, Sharon Cornwell, Shelley (Garett) Glatt, and son-in-law Deacon Ronald Pyle. She is also survived by nine grandchildren Jeffrey (Kelsey) Schweitzer, Ryan Schweitzer, Randi (Whitney) Neukam, Christopher (Rachel) Pyle, Samantha (Arjay) Quizon, Molly (Adam) Waldier, Julie Beth Gillespie, MD, Aaron (Alissa) Glatt, and Cory Glatt (financé Trevor Hill). Her 15 great-grandchildren include Eli Webb, Preslee Neukam, Elayna Webb, Bentley Neukam, Adelaide Schweitzer, Aria Webb, Matthew Schweitzer, Harvey Quizon, Louis Waldier, Jolie Neukam, Jack Schweitzer, Stevie Pyle, Holden Pyle, Bodhi Waldier, and Adleigh Glatt.
Services will be held on Monday, September 29 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church at 1 W Wilhelm Street, Schererville, IN. Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Internment will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joan’s name to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html. A special thank you to Residences at Deer Creek Schererville and Providence Hospice for the wonderful care they provided.
