Gary Fujawa

August 5, 1942 - Feb. 25, 2018

SOUTH BEND - Born in South Bend, Indiana on August 5, 1942 to Lois and Alfred Fujawa, he attended Washington High School where he played both football and basketball. He attended Indiana State University and served in the Marine Corps. He also traveled the midwest playing minor league softball.

His business life began as an insulator with the Insulator's Union, where he traveled the country working at nuclear power plants. He was elected business manager for the South Bend Local #75 of The International Heat and Frost Insulators, and was elected the International Vice-President for the Central States, a position he held for 30 years. He retired in 2000 to enjoy life with family and friends.

He lived his life on planes and in airports, but always made it home on Friday nights and headed straight to the home of his parents for a home-cooked meal and an evening watching sports.

For the last 10 years, he has also had a home in Fort Myers, Florida ensuring that he never missed out on a game of golf. His passions were golf, the Chicago Cubs, the Fighting Irish, fine food, fine wine, fine clothes, and the love of all who were lucky enough to have crossed his path.

“He was the glue that held us all together, he will be hugely missed”; “he was the most generous man I ever knew”; “he always seemed the least likely to die”; “all of our lives will be diminished by his loss”; “my life will never be the same without him in it” were just a few of his friends' thoughts on his loss.

Gary is survived by his loving life partner, Ginger Fann Hall; his two sons: eldest, Todd Fujawa and wife Brandi, and youngest, Adam Fujawa and his wife, Sierra Bailey.

Also surviving are brother, Gilbert Fujawa; his three grandchildren, Madi, Olivia, and Caden; and his many nieces and nephews who loved him very much.

Unique to the end, Gary suffered from a pediatric brain tumor. There are only thirty cases ever recorded; Gary was case number thirty-one. After a very short illness, the tumor took his life at his home in Florida, surrounded by family and friends.