Joseph Matthew Mrak
April 2, 1926 - November 23, 2025
A Life of Dedication and Community Service
We sadly announce the passing of Joseph Matthew Mrak, born April 2, 1926, in Gary, Indiana. He was a first-generation American, born of Croatian immigrant parents Anton and Marica (Haraminac) Mrak.
“Joe” was a devoted educator, business owner, community leader, and beloved family member.
A proud graduate of Lew Wallace High School, Class of 1944, he was drafted into the Army during World War II, serving his country with honor both in the Philippines and on a Reconstruction crew in Japan.
Following his service, he attended Ball State University on the GI Bill, earning a master’s degree in education, focused on Industrial Arts. It was there he met his future wife, Mary Jane (Rains) Mrak (Jane). Joe and Jane were married on June 13, 1948, until Jane’s passing on October 2, 2012, 64 years.
His teaching career began at Froebel High School in Gary, Indiana where he taught metal shop, and continued at his alma mater, Lew Wallace, where he guided students in learning the printing trade until 1980. His high school print shop impressively did all the printing for the Gary School System. He then taught printing at Hobart High School until his retirement in 1985. Affectionately known to his students as "Chief," he inspired many, especially those interested in the printing profession, even helping them find their first jobs.
Joe was an avid Lew Wallace sports fan, selling tickets to the football and basketball games, for which his print shop printed the programs. And he “moonlit” at Sears Roebuck and Company in thriving downtown Gary, in the rug and window-treatment department.
Alongside his dedication to education, he owned and operated a print shop, Mrak’s One- Stop Printing in Portage from 1978 to 1995. During this time, he and his wife were active members of the Portage Chamber of Commerce. They were also board members of the Portage Historical Society, helping to grow its expanse. Joe had first-hand experience of the growth of Portage. He built the house in 1952 that he and his family would live in long before Portage became an official town and watched it eventually become a city.
He and his wife were among the founding members of Nativity Parish in Portage in 1964, which started as a “drive-in” church that met in the Portage Mall. Mass was said from the back of a trailer and parishioners would line up in their cars to attend. Joe was also a founding member of the Knights of Columbus, a global fraternal service organization of the Catholic Church.
He was a longstanding member of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4 and a proud member of the American Industrial Arts Association (AIAA), from which he was honored with the 1967 Industrial Arts Teacher of the Year award. He also served on the board of Phi Delta Kappa, an international teaching fraternity, advocating and succeeding for women educators to be included.
He enjoyed traveling the country and vacationing with his family in their motor home as well as being an avid boating enthusiast and water skier.
Joe will be remembered for his generosity, dedication, and the lasting impact he made on his students and his community by his loving family, friends, former students, and all those whose lives he touched. His legacy of service, dedication and kindness will live on in the hearts of many.
He is survived by his five children, Joseph Matthew (Kimberly) Mrak, II of Noblesville, Paul Anthony Mrak of Denver, Colorado, Michael Glen (Crisa) Mrak of Michigan City, Christine Marie (Richard Blumberg) Mrak of Seattle, Washington, and Valerie Anne (Michael Westphal) Mrak of Michigan City; ten grandchildren, Maritza Liaw, Elia Mrak-Blumberg, Eva Mrak-Blumberg, Nora Westphal, Joseph Mrak, III, David Mrak, Stephen Mrak, Sidney Mrak, Mia Mrak, and Kale Mrak; ten great grandchildren, Dominic Liaw, Zachary Liaw, Quincy Liaw, Anna Westphal, Ava Mrak, Kara Mrak, Allison Mrak, Ian Mrak, Abbott Mrak, and Oliver Mrak; and a brother, COL Steven V. Mrak, USAF retired of San Antonio, Texas; and his friends, former students, and all those whose lives he touched. His legacy of service, dedication and kindness will live on in the hearts of many.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife Mary Jane (Rains) Mrak, his parents, two daughters, Laurie Mrak and Michelle Jeanine Mrak; and one son, John Charles Mrak.
Visitation for Joe will be conducted at the Rees Funeral Home, Olson Chapel, 5341 Central Ave Portage, Indiana 46368 Sunday November 30, 2025, from 2-5 pm. A Rite of Christian Burial will begin Monday with 10:30 am Prayers at the Funeral Home and process to Nativity of Our Savior Catholic Church 2949 Willowcreek Road where Rev. Kevin McCarthy will Celebrate Mass. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Portage, Indiana.
This information and the picture below were obtained from: https://www.reesfuneralhomes.com/obituary/joseph-mrak. The picture above was obtained from the 1984 HHS Memories yearbook, made available by the Lake County Public Library, at: https://archive.org/details/HOHS1984Images/.
