Mane Bubalo

Mane Bubalo, 96 years old, of Speedway, IN passed away on July 4, 2018.  He was born on December 8, 1921 to Dane and Mika Bubalo in Licko-Petrovo Selo, Yugoslavia and was the fourth of six children.

At the age of 19, Mane joined the Yugoslav Royal Military Academy.  However, seven months later he was captured by the Nazis and spent the next four years as a prisoner of war (Staalag 7A) in Bavaria.  Mane knew four languages; his native Serbian, Latin, German and French.  After a surprise visit by General George Patton, Mane was chosen out of all the prisoners of war to translate (French) for General Patton.  Shortly thereafter, Patton liberated Mane and his POW friends to a displaced persons camp in Munich.  This was a two-year educational commitment operated by the United Nations to prepare for the next transition of Mane’s life: Freedom.

After a two-week journey across the Atlantic Ocean, Mane arrived in the United States of America on March 15, 1947, settling in Chicago.  Inspired by electrical genius, Nikola Tesla, who was born just 40 miles from Mane’s birthplace, he decided to become an electrician.  Mane studied very hard and in 1951 pursued his career for the next 33 years at Western Electric in Indianapolis.  This is the same year he married the love of his life, Helen Savich.  They had two daughters together and were married for 50 years.

Mane enjoyed soccer, golf, and loved reading books.  He had an exceptional talent at writing eulogies for friends who passed away.  However, his greatest passion was spending quality time with his family, and his devotion to the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Mane was preceded in death by his wife, Helen and is survived by his daughters Debbie (Kelly) Landrey and Diana (Scott) Shanks, grandchildren Amanda (Brian) Conradt, Emily Smith, Evan Shanks, Austin Shanks and sister in law Yovanka Savich.

Thank you to the staff at Harbour Manor Rehab & Nursing and Transitions Hospice.

Visitation will be Saturday July 07, 2018 from 10 am to 12 pm at the St Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church at 7855 Marsh Road Indianapolis, IN with the funeral service beginning at Noon.

Burial will be in Floral Park Cemetery in Indianapolis, IN.