George Shubat

George John Shubat 90, a veteran of World War II, passed away at his home in Zionsville, IN, on Saturday, May 14, surrounded by his family. Born to Croatian immigrants on February 4, 1915, his parents were Vosmoslav "Pasquali" and Marija Kruzich Shubat of Caspian, Michigan. The 4th of 5 children, he graduated from Stambaugh High School in Stambaugh, Michigan in 1933. Mr. Shubat worked various jobs, such as mining in the copper and iron mines of the region and as a lumberman. While working for the Civilian Conservation Corps, during the depression, he was able to save enough money by 1937 to enroll at Michigan Tech University in Houghton, Michigan. In 1941, Mr. Shubat graduated, with honors, with a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering. Thanks to ROTC at Michigan Tech, he entered the US Army as a 2nd Lieutenant, serving with the Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Shubat's tour of duty was on various islands in the Pacific Theatre of War and ended on July 4th, 1946, he was honorably discharged, having acquired the rank of Lt. Colonel. From 1946 to November of 1956, Lt. Colonel Shubat served in the Officers' Reserve Corps attached to Ft. Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1943, before departing for overseas duty, Mr. Shubat met Lamoyne Woodard at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia on a blind date. Three years later, on February 15, 1946, they wed in Luray, Virginia. After a trip to Northern, Michigan to introduce his bride to his family and to New Mexico to meet her family, the newlyweds settled in Zionsville, Indiana. Mrs. Shubat preceded him in death in January of 1997. In 1947, Mr. Shubat went to work for Diamond Chain and Co., as their Process Engineer, retiring in 1980 as Corps Head in charge of engineering. In 1964, Mr. Shubat was elected to the Zionsville Town Board, serving as its President for 2 years. Memberships included the American Society for Quality Control, American Society for Metals, American Society of Powder Metallurgy, Toastmasters International, and the Croatian Fraternal Union, serving as President of most of these organizations. He also served on the USAC Technical Committee at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for many years and was a member of the Old Timers Club. Mr. Shubat was also an accomplished Brac` player, a mandolin type instrument, popular in the Balkan Countries. As a young man, he had been a member of the Balkan Boys Band, along with his brother and three cousins. His renewed interest in playing brought much pleasure to his family and friends during his retirement. Besides his parents and his wife, Mr. Shubat was predeceased by a brother, Anton Shubat, and a sister, Lillian Kracmer. Mr. Shubat is survived by daughters, Suzanne, Georgia, Mary (David) Waltz, and Tommye (Rob) Davis and one son, John (Jayne) Shubat. Also surviving is his fianc�, Claire Kraft of Chicago, Il, sisters, Mary Masnjak of Crystal Falls, MI and Dorothy Sarber of Stambaugh, MI, 5 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, 9 nieces and nephews, and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews. Calling will be from 3 to 8 p.m., Thursday, May 19, 2005 at Flanner & Buchanan Funeral Center, Zionsville, Indiana. A funeral mass will be held 1 p.m., Friday, May 20, 2005 at St. Monica Catholic Church, 6131 N. Michigan Rd., Indianapolis. Burial will follow the service at Zionsville Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Vincent Hospice, 8450 N. Payne Rd., Suite 100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268.