Virgil Bronson, 76, of Portage, died Saturday, Oct. 16, 2004.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Iona M. (Allenback) Goin; three daughters Margo (William) Brown, April (Robert) Smeltzer, Jackie Goin and son, Carl J. (Kathy) Goin, all of Portage; grandchildren Richard (Tina) Heideman, Kellie (Rudy) Chasko, Cory Brown, Ryan Brown, Kyne Mark Stanley, Valerie and Daniel Smeltzer, Nichole Wallingford, Mallory Goin and Virgil Bronson Goin II, all of Portage; great-grandchildren, Brittany, Bradley, Zoi and Stasia Heideman, Cheyenne, Chandler, Sydnie and Paije Chasko, all of Portage; sister, Mary Jane (Frank deceased) Bouque of Hobart; brother-in-law, Pete (Jomarie deceased) Kowalenko of Merrillville; sister Pam (Frank, deceased) Grieco of Pittsburg, Pa.; brother Frank Goin of Fla.; brother Robert (Nancy) of Cincinnati, Ohio; sister-in-law Susie (Paul deceased) Nicolosi, life long friend, J.R. Rossi and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son Rudy Goin, parents Joseph J. Goin and Ludie Bronson Johnson and sisters, Georgiana Mareitch, Jomarie Kowalenko and Louise Grace Paul.

A liflong Portage resident, he served as Business Agent to Local 81, retired after 50 years of service. He was a member of the American Legion Post 94 of Valparaiso, Valparaiso Moose Lodge and Maritime Merchant Marines of Chicago. He remained active in the Retirees Council of Local 81 and founded Valparaiso Area Council and served as President.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home. Interment will be at Heritage Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home Portage Chapel, 6941 Central Ave., Portage.

Memorials may be made to Porter County Cancer Society, 1009 N. Calumet, Valparaiso, IN 46363.

Posted 10/19/2004