David R. Levendoski

David Roger Levendoski was born July 21, 1932, in a small house his father built in Pinola. When he was five years old the family moved to Stillwell, and he began the first grade at age seven. In 1942 Stillwell school burned down and the family moved to Laporte. In 1950 he graduated from Laporte High School and later attended Purdue University Extension where classes were held in Michigan City’s Barker Mansion.

During the Korean War, having joined the U.S. Naval Reserve in high school, he volunteered for active duty and trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. He opted to become a radio operator, and attended the Navy’s Radiomen’s School in Bainbridge, Maryland. Upon graduation he was assigned to the Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, Rhode Island, on Narragansett Bay. His duty there was to maintain radio contact with bombers patrolling the Atlantic Coast from Newfoundland to Key West Florida, searching for Russian Submarines monitoring the movement of shipping. In early 1955, he met his reserve commitment and was honorably discharged.

Back home in LaPorte, he immediately applied to the Indiana State Police. A series of examinations and interviews secured him an appointment to the Department’s Training Academy on the Campus of Indiana University, Bloomington. After completing three months of rigorous training, he was appointed to the ranks as a Probationary Trooper at the former Dunes Park District. For three years he patrolled U.S. 20 and 12 between Gary and the Michigan State line. It was thirty miles of one of the deadliest stretches of highways in America. In 1958 David was transferred to the ISP General Headquarters in Indianapolis. Residing in suburban Plainfield, he joined several other state and local officers in founding the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 126 for which he received a lifelong membership.

As a member of the Public Relations Staff, he served as liaison to all newspapers, radio, and television stations in the state, and often worldwide. In addition to his public information duties, he made several pioneering efforts for the State Police. He originated the “ISP Road Show,” a 30-minute taped radio program in which he and a popular television personality, Glen Webber, discussed traffic safety themes and played recorded music. He also wrote and directed several documentary films beginning with the Palm Sunday tornado disaster in 1965. The film, “Death out of Darkness,” was seen by a variety community group in Indiana. Subsequent films dealt with the war on drugs, farm safety, bicycle, and recreational vehicle safety. The National Safety Council cited his film on safe farming practices. When the ISP put VASCAR into use- a visual timing device to support the use of radar, his training film was used by various police departments. In 1975 Dave opted to return to field law enforcement and was named commander of the ISP Security force at the Port of Indiana. Troopers and port security officers manned this entrance and monitored some four hundred or more longshoremen and employees, working closely with the FBI and US customs. The ISP operation ended as shipping declined on the Great Lakes. Dave was appointed as assistant area commander at the Lowell district which at the time included the ISP’s Bremen and Lafayette Districts. After a short time he was named commander of the Toll Road district. October 1986, after 31 years of service, Dave retired and was then hired by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to aid in the development of internal affairs and security divisions. Once completed he was appointed as investigator for INDOT’S LaPorte and Fort Wayne Districts. Retiring in 1998, he and his wife Jane became “snowbirds” escaping the coldest months after the New year to Miramar Beach, Fl. For a few years he also served as a part-time substitute teacher at LaPorte’s Middle and High school. Seeking warmer weather Dave and Jane began their winter stays at Naples, Florida. A talent for art led Dave to begin oil painting lessons with the late Thelma La Hayne, a LaPortean and professional artist once living in New York City. In later years he became a charter member of the Land of Lakes Art Association (LOLAA) at the invitation of founder Laporte business Robert Zimmerman. Over the years Dave showed and sold some of his paintings but primarily found joy in giving to friends and family. An avid golfer, Dave was a 40-year member of the Beechwood men’s club and Michiana Seniors Golf Association. Dave enjoyed playing in tournaments throughout the Michiana area.

David leaves behind his loving wife of 48 years Jane. His children from a previous marriage Scott (Joyce) Avon, Indiana; Stephanie and Annmarie Todd, Indianapolis, Indiana; Jane’s children, Susan (Edward) Parker, Mishawaka and James (Dianne) Fish, LaPorte Indiana; grandchildren Jill (Jake) Nekvasil; Jim (Sarah) Fish of Laporte; Molly (Tyler) Nelson of Brownsburg, Indiana; Lauren Levendoski as well as six great grandchildren. Preceded in his death by son, Nick Levendoski of Indianapolis, Indiana, and daughter Linda Levendoski, Fayetteville, Georgia.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel in La Porte.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated at 11 AM (CST), Monday, November 10, 2025 at Holy Family Parish, St. Joseph Church, 109 C. Street, La Porte, Indiana.

Burial will follow at Pine Lake Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Parish, St. Joseph Church, 201 Bach Street, La Porte, Indiana 46350.

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