Lonnie Oden Robertson

August 22, 1949 ~ August 11, 2025

Born in South Bend, Indiana in 1949 to the late Robert G. and Virginia L. (Sahli) Robertson, he attended Washington High School and graduated from LaSalle High School of South Bend in 1967. He went on to obtain his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a minor in Education from Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind. in 1972. Lonnie completed his student teaching assignment at Rensselaer Central High School in the fall of 1971 and assisted in coaching the high school wrestling team there. While at Saint Joseph’s, he lettered two years as a shot putter and discus thrower on the track team. He then received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Long Beach in 1977 and, afterward, was a graduate student at Cal State. Lonnie worked as a senior pressure vessel designer with Fluor Engineers and Constructors of Irvine, California in the 1970s, and later became a high school math teacher in Attica, Ind. In 1983 he became a sales engineer with Steel Tank and Fabricating Corp. of Columbia City, Ind., and in 1998 he held the position of engineering coordinator for Porter Athletic Equipment Co. of Broadview, Illinois. For most of his career he programmed computer CAD systems to automate the creation of engineering and steel fabrication drawings, retiring in 2010. He served a year as president of the Northeast Indiana AutoCAD Users Group in the early 1990s and taught several CAD classes at IVY Tech Community College in Fort Wayne. He was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Wayne.

Throughout his life he enjoyed exercising, jogging, and exploring the Internet. For 20 years Lonnie was a drummer in several bagpipe bands in northern Indiana, including the Fort Wayne Scottish Pipes and Drums; the Thistle & Heather Pipe Band of South Bend; and the Northwest Indiana Pipes & Drums of Valparaiso. He was also a member of the Tunes of Glory Pipes & Drums of Warrenville,.Illinois, performing in parades, concerts, and Highland game competitions throughout the Midwest with each of these bands. After his time playing ended, he served two seasons as a competition piping steward for the Midwest Pipe Band Association.

Over the years Lonnie's travels took him to London, England; Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland; and Paris, France. He had an extensive collection of classic horror and sci-fi movies and especially enjoyed the films of the 1930s through the 1960s, also collecting memorabilia related to these films. He was a true “Monster Kid.” Surviving are his daughter, Beth (Peter) Fraley of Minneapolis, Minnesota; brother, Larry (Jeanne) Robertson; sister, Lynne Miller, both of South Bend; and sister, Lorie Jones of Mesa, Arizona. Also surviving are grandson, Orion Fraley and granddaughter, Trinity Fraley, both of Minneapolis; niece, McKenzie Andis; nephew, Chase Miller; grandnephew, Gavin Andis, all of Indianapolis; and twelve cousins. He is also survived by Tom Jewell of Aurora, Illinois who was a great friend for many years. Lonnie has requested that his family express his sincere appreciation and gratitude to all of the dedicated nurses, technicians, and staff of Fresenius Kidney Care of southwest Fort Wayne. Many wonderful people work there. He especially wanted to thank Nurse Cindy Miller for her compassionate care and encouragement. She was able to lift his spirits often and Lonnie thought the world of her.

Posted online on August 18, 2025

Published in South Bend Tribune

Added 08/19/2025 GMS

https://www.midwestfuneralhome.com/obituary/Lonnie-Robertson