Man loved to make others laugh

Frank Bardeson left an impression on everyone he met, said his daughter, Monica Bardeson.

"He lit up the room when he walked in," she said. "Everyone knew my Dad."

He was always willing to lend money to someone, even if he didn't have it himself. Or he would volunteer to drive someone to Indianapolis if they needed a ride.

"He always wanted to help people out. It brought him joy," she said.

Frank Bardeson, 70, of Merrillville and formerly of Gary, died Jan. 2. He was a partner in the Lamp Lounge Bar & Restaurant. He worked for Key Markets 20 years and was working for the Lake County Highway Department.

He loved to golf, and was a member of Turkey Creek Golf Club.

"He wanted to be a pro golfer, and he was really good," she said.

He got his nickname, "Hogan," after professional golfer Ben Hogan, she said.

Monica Bardeson said her father had a great sense of humor and loved giving nicknames to people.

"At his wake, people were introducing themselves to me by their real names and the nicknames my father had given them," she said. "He had a nickname for everybody."

She said she admired her father for his generosity and for his love of life.

"He was always in a good mood," she said. "He was the life of the party."