L. W. "Whitey" Hanzel

L. W. "Whitey" Hanzel, of Fort Wayne died on Friday, March 3, 2023, at the age of 96. He died peacefully at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana with family at his side. He had the honor to be named Ladislaus by his parents, who emigrated from Slovakia. They settled in Johnstown Pennsylvania, on a small farm, where the children were all raised. Laci, (his nickname) attended Saint Stephen’s Catholic Church and School and was a student and football player at Bishop McCort High School. After more than 100 years, their farmhouse is still standing, and was the site of many family reunions. After serving in the Army during World War II, Whitey earned his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering in Angola, Indiana, at Tri-State College (now Trine University). As a student he joined the Catholic fraternity, Phi Kappa Theta and went on to volunteer over 50 years of service as the group’s Resident Agent, assisting many fraternity brothers with housing needs, and providing physical and financial assistance to the fraternity houses. Whitey had a long and distinguished career at Indiana and Michigan Power Company (AEP), starting at the near bottom (in a one-story, 4-desk office) as a Load Dispatcher; working all hours of the “swing-shift”, striving to keep the flow of electricity to residents and businesses uninterrupted. He earned several promotions, and after 40 years retired as Systems Operations Manager, working from the 27th floor of One Summit Square (the Concrete Silo). He returned to college, earning a Business Degree from Indiana/Purdue University, Fort Wayne. He encouraged his staff, family, and friends to pursue continuing education and to achieve other personal goals. Grateful employees still express their thanks. As a young college student, Whitey met his future wife, Ramona, at Bledsoe’s Beach, Angola. They married and bought their first and only house in Fort Wayne. Ramona was a stay-at-home mom; and he was a dedicated family man and provider. The Becher/Hanzel cottage on Crooked Lake, Angola, became their favorite retreat. Along with family and friends, Whitey enjoyed water sports, fishing, card games, and beer. His family gladly carries on that tradition. Never one to simply rest, Whitey also planted and harvested a huge vegetable garden. His yearly preserves included pickled beets, salsa, and dried hot peppers; excess produce was given to his dear friends. He also invented “DIY”. He taught himself car repairs and home maintenance, repairs, and remodeling. His renovations included his house, the lake cottage, the Pennsylvania farmhouse, and anything that his daughters wanted or needed for their homes. His finished projects are too numerous and too varied to list. He was a parishioner at Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Fort Wayne for more than 70 years. As you may know, Whitey had a one-line quip for every situation, so in his memory, “He’ll see you in the funny papers!” He is survived by three daughters; Suzi Hanzel, Julie Hanzel and Karen (Gopal) Pati; by four grandchildren, Ricki (Michael Patino) Hanzel , Greg (Karen Eller) Sherman, Matt (Jessie) Nuckolls, and Sara (Trey Mariner) Sherman. Also surviving are six great grandchildren, Damian, Lily, Amelia, and Ivan Nuckolls, and Fiona and Milo Sherman; and numerous coast-to-coast nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Ramona (Becher) in 2018. His death was also preceded by his infant daughter, Mary Lou, in 1957; by his parents, Frances and Joseph Hanzel; by four brothers, Joseph, John, Reverend Louis SVD, and Robert; and by two sisters, Mary Murray, and Theresa Gorman. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 am on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at Queen of Angels Catholic Church,1500 West State Blvd., Fort Wayne with Visitation will be from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, March 10, 2023 at C.M. Sloan and Sons Funeral Home, 1327 North Wells St., Fort Wayne. Additional visitation and prayers will be at the funeral home on Saturday morning beginning at 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 am at which time there will be a procession to the church to begin the funeral Mass. Burial will follow services at Catholic Cemetery, 3500 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne. In lieu of flowers, he requested donations be made to the parish, specifically to Queen of Angels for the Hanzel Handicap Improvement Fund, 1500 West State Blvd., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46808. Condolences and memories of Whitey can be left online at www.sloanandsonsfuneralhome.com.