Donald Lee Colbert, 85, of Michigan City, IN, died peacefully at 10:44 a.m. Wednesday, June 19, 2013, in Rittenhouse Senior Living of Michigan City.
He was born Dec. 11, 1927, in Champaign, IL, to James R. and Ura (Reichard) Colbert.
Donald was a graduate of the University of Illinois, where he played basketball. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and honorably served in the Korean War. He loved nature, beach walks, traveling, sightseeing and gardening, and was an avid Chicago Bears fan.
On Nov. 8, 1993, in LaPorte, he married Barbro (Swanson) Colbert, who survives.
Also surviving are one daughter, Katharine (John) Kraeck of Yardley, PA; two stepsons, Erik (Tami) Rauch of Westville, IN, and Kurt (Linda) Rauch of California; two sisters, Lois Salisch of Arizona and Jacqueline (Luther) Terry of Illinois; seven grandchildren, Emily, Alison, Tommy, Rebecca, Elliott, Kaitlyn, and Megan; and two great-grandchildren, Hailey and Brayden.
Preceding him in death were his parents, two brothers, one sister and one son.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 28, at Lakeview Funeral Home and Crematory, LaPorte, with Rev. Phillip Burke officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the service. A flag presentation service will be conducted by the LaPorte Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana, 922 E. Colfax Ave., South Bend, IN 46617.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com.