Donald Rossie Surprise, Arizona / Merrillville, Indiana

Donald Rossie, age 79, a native of Merrillville, Indiana and resident of Surprise, Arizona for 22 years passed away on December 9, 2025. Don was a Navy Veteran of the Vietnam War. He was the beloved husband of Susan (nee Miller) Rossie of 55 years; the loving father of Eric (Tanya) Rossie of Carmel, Indiana and Janene Bojorquez-Davila (Richard) of Phoenix, Arizona; grandchildren Lauren (Erik) Vallow, Emma and Andrew Rossie, Katie Rietman, Sarah (Jordan) Zuniga, Joseph (Zoe) Rietman, and Brian Rietman with one great-grandchild Everlynn Zuniga; brother of Terry (Sharon) Rossie of Chicago, Illinois and Edwin Smith of Crown Point. Don also had multiple nieces and nephews who he adored thoroughly throughout his days.

He is preceded in death by his parents: Judge and Della (nee Smith) Rossie and brothers Ronnie and Jimmy Rossie.

Don graduated from George Washington High School in Chicago and worked for 31 years at the Inland Steel Company in East Chicago, Indiana as a skilled machinist/mechanic. This led to his many hobbies of completing multiple construction projects for friends/family and fixing/building anything mechanical in nature. In his later years, Don enjoyed being a part of the Vietnam Veterans of America and loved connecting with other veterans. Don’s most cherished activities involved traveling and enjoying every minute of retirement with his dearest wife and companion, Sue. The most common words friends and family use to describe Don are Kind, Compassionate, Smart, Giving, and able to fix anything. Don and Sue attended Northview Church weekly, and he was a man of faith and surely welcomed his call home to his heavenly father.

There will be a service at Menke Funeral Home in Sun City, Arizona on December 20, 2025, and according to Don’s wishes, with a full military honor guard. He also requested a plaque and final resting place in the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona.