Lorainne M. (Miloserny) DeGeeter

Lorainne M. DeGeeter, 95, passed away on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, after celebrating Christmas with her family.  Lorainne was born in South Bend, IN, on July 22, 1926, to the late Joseph and Alice (Grzeskowiak) Miloserny.  Lorainne grew up on the west side of South Bend.  She had 3 siblings, but she admits that she was raised almost like an only child since her siblings were already teenagers when she was born.  Her siblings, Alex Milo, Ted Miloserny and Genevieve Shuman, all preceded her in death. 

Lorainne was a 1943 graduate of Washington High School as the mid-term Valedictorian.  She was a cheerleader and worked part time for her brother, Ted in his jewelry repair shop.  She was in the first summer graduation class in South Bend after she picked up the last few credits at Central High School.  Her chemistry teacher at Washington helped her get a job in the chemistry lab at Ball Band.

On June 7, 1947, in St. Bavo Catholic Church, she married Robert C. DeGeeter who preceded her in death on October 24, 1985, after 38 years of marriage.  They literally danced into each other’s lives.  They were both just 17 years old and working at Ball Band when they wanted to put on a show for the younger people, so they helped organize it.  When the show started, they got up and danced the jitterbug.  These 2 young dance partners became partners for life after Robert was discharged from the Navy following WWII.  Early in their marriage they enjoyed going out dancing, especially when swing was popular.  They also would vacation at Sisters Lake for a week every summer and looked forward to an occasional trip to Florida. 

Lorainne and Robert had 4 children, Diane (Paul) Ward-Lett, James DeGeeter, Michael (Jeanine) DeGeeter and John DeGeeter who all survive.  Also surviving are 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.  Before children came along, she worked for a photography and art studio, and then as a sketch artist for Robertson’s advertising department.  Then after John, her youngest, entered Kindergarten, she went back to work-first at South Bend Neon drawing signs and then at a variety of part time jobs doing artwork.  For many years she was a Keyline artist at Welsh, Benesics and Bolles.  She retired at the age of 73 after working for 14 years as a clerk for River Park Jewelers. 

Lorainne liked watching sports, including the games in which their children played.  She also kept tabs on the athletic careers of her grandchildren.  She enjoyed playing euchre, rummy cubes and reading. 

The family will receive friends 5-7 pm on Thursday December 30,2021, at Hahn Funeral Home in Mishawaka with a prayer service at 7 pm.  A private interment will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Bavo Catholic Church, 511 W. 7th Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544.

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