Victor Raymond Ivanuski, 83, died of natural causes in the Catherine Kasper Living Center, Donaldson, IN., at 3:05 p.m. on Saturday, November 29, 2008.
Born in Soland Springs, WIS., on May 23, 1925, Victor was the son of Stanley Ivanuski.
He graduated from Kelley High School in Chicago, in 1943. During World War II, he served in a U.S. Construction Battalion in the United States Navy, commonly known as the “Seabees.” As a Gunner’s Mate 2/C, Victor was an explosive expert and saw action in the re-invasion of the Phillipines.
In the spring of 1945, in Chicago, Victor and Alice Bishop Harper were married. Alice died on Christmas Eve of 1993.
After his discharge, Victor used the GI Bill to attend Wilson Junior College in Chicago. In 1950, during the Korean War, he was called back into service. Following his second service discharge, he enrolled in the Illinois Institute of Technology.
He worked for the Institute’s not-for-profit research program. A chemical engineer, Victor solved many problems for the military and the Atomic Energy Commission. He was also involved with the Space Program and is credited for devising a fluffy paint that reflected heat. It is used on the back-packs of the astronauts and on the moon-lander to help keep the temperatures from getting too high.
A lot of his work was –and is—“top secret.”
Victor retired from the IITRI in 1983, but was frequently called back to Chicago to work on various problems.
He and Alice, using a settlement from a train accident, bought a home and 20 acres in Polk Township of Marshall County in the 1980’s.
An excellent duplicate bridge player, he served as the director of both the Monday morning duplicate games at the Moose Family Lodge and an evening bridge club that met at Miller’s Merry Manor.
In addition to bridge, Victor enjoyed watching sports on TV and was an ardent Chicago Cub fan.
He is survived by a nephew, John Michial Hammitt, Seebright, N.J., and a niece-in-law, Lois A. Hammitt, Chandler, AR.
Two great-nieces, Christina Lynn Hammitt, Birmingham, MI., and Debra Renee Hammitt, Chandler, AR., and a great-nephew, David Jeffrey Hammitt, also of Chandler, survive as well.
Victor was preceded in death by his wife, Alice, and a sister, Catherine Hammitt.
A graveside service will be held in the New Oakhill Cemetery at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 5, 2008.
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