Mr. James L. “Jim” Friend, 57, of LaPorte, died at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013, at IU Health LaPorte Hospital after a very brief illness.
He was born Oct. 5, 1955, in Valparaiso, IN, to Charles and Norma (Collins) Friend.
Jim was a banker/associate vice president at Indiana Federal Bank of Valparaiso, a sales representative for Bye-Mor’, and a substitute teacher for the LaPorte Community School Corporation at the middle school and high school levels. He was a LaPorte High School graduate of 1974 and a 1978 graduate of Hanover College with a bachelor’s degree in business. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and an avid Tennessee Volunteers fan. He was a volunteer for the March of Dimes and a longtime LaPorte High School Athletic Booster Club Officer. Jim was a member of the Presbyterian Church of LaPorte, where he was a Sunday school teacher, youth leader and church elder, and went on many church mission trips. He also helped collect clothing for the Worthy Women’s Recovery Home of LaPorte and volunteered for the Michigan City Homeless Shelter. He was a very energetic and caring person who enjoyed working with youth and with less privileged people. He devoted his life to his family.
On July 28, 1979, in Michigan City, IN, he married Carolyn A. Christensen, who survives.
Jim is also survived by two daughters, Cassie L. Friend and Caitlin L. Friend, both of LaPorte; his father, Charles L. (Lorraine) Friend of LaPorte; one sister, Karen (Sam) Melnick of Michigan City; his stepmother-in-law, Ann Christensen of Payson, AZ; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, sisters, and brothers-in-law.
He was preceded in death by his mother, grandparents, father-in-law and mother-in-law, several aunts and uncles, and one cousin.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, Sept. 7, at 11 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church of LaPorte. Visitation will be at Essling Funeral Home, LaPorte, on Friday, Sept. 6, from 4 to 8 p.m., and at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the service. Burial will be at a later date in the Presbyterian Church of LaPorte Columbarium.
Contributions may be made to the Presbyterian Church of LaPorte, 307 Kingsbury Ave., LaPorte, IN 46350; Worthy Women’s Recovery Home, P.O. Box 116, LaPorte, IN 46350; or LaPorte High School Athletic Booster Club, 603 F St., LaPorte, IN 46350.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.