Bernard Edward Keltyka, 102, passed away Friday December 29, 2017. Bernard was born July 4, 1915 in Chicago, Illinois to Catherine and Francis Keltyka and was raised in East Chicago, Indiana where he attended St. Stanislaus and Roosevelt High Schools.He is survived by loving daughter and caregiver, Kathleen and son Alan (Pamela), sisters Celia Majeski and Charlotte Jillson, and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his loving wife of 51 years in 1997, Julie (nee Rybenske), his parents, sisters, Mary, Helen, Loretta, Emily and brother, John.Bernard lived a long and exciting life with experiences including riding the rails, cattle ranching, railroad construction, and the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. He returned to East Chicago prior to World War II and was employed at Superheater Corp. Bernard answered the call to his country in 1941 in both the Army and Navy Aviation Programs that resulted in being an Aviation Machinist Mate Specialist with the U.S. Navy. After training, he was assigned to the South Pacific Theater on the islands of Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New Hebrides and Bougainville with Carrier Air Service Units, and as flight crew on various aircraft. He completed his naval service stationed at Alameda, California when the war ended.Returning to East Chicago in 1946, he married Julie Rybenske. While continuing his work at Superheater Corp. he built his home in Hammond and the family moved there in 1952. Together with his brother John, they continued building homes in the Hammond area. General and Electrical Construction continued in Indiana and California until 1967 when he completed his career at the new Bethlehem Steel Plant until he retired in 1983. He was a member of American Legion Allied Post 369 who will post colors on Wednesday at 6:00 pm and hold Military Honors on Thursday at the cemetery. Visitation will be on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 from 3:00-7:00 pm at Kish Funeral Home, 10000 Calumet Ave. Munster, IN and on Thursday from 11:30 am-12:00 pm at the church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 12:00 pm at St. Maria Goretti Church, 500 Northgate Dr. Dyer, IN. Interment will be at St. Joseph-St. John Cemetery Hammond, IN. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Share Foundation would be appreciated.