George F. Hennion

Aug. 23, 1910-March 29, 1994

SOUTH BEND - George F. Hennion, 83, of East LaSalle Avenue, died at 6:20 p.m. Tuesday in Meridian Nursing Home-Cardinal after an illness. Mr. Hennion retired in 1975 from the University of Notre Dame as professor of organic chemistry and was Rev. J.A. Nieuwland Chair of Chemistry since the 1940s. He was born Aug. 23, 1910, in South Bend, and was a lifelong area resident. On Aug. 23, 1933, in South Bend, he married Alice C. Braunsdorf. She survives with three daughters, Mary Claire Gassensmith of South Bend, Alice C. Robinson of Roscoe, Ill., and Margaret A. Filchak of Buchanan; a son, George F. of Long Beach, Calif.; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Sister Mary Claire Hennion, OSU, of Toledo, Ohio, and Helen Cook of Port Clinton, Ohio; and a brother, Joseph of South Bend. A son, John R., preceded him in death. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, American Chemical Society, past president of St. Joseph Valley Chapter of American Chemical Society, was a consultant for Eli Lilly and Dow Chemical Co., published numerous articles in scientist journals and textbooks, and was listed in ''Who's Who in America.'' He was internationally known for his work with acetylene and was a national lecturer. He was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in the church. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in McGann Funeral Home, 2313 E. Edison Road, where a parish wake will be at 3:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the church.