Joseph S. Lawecki

Mar. 19, 1925 - Jun. 6, 2012

SOUTH BEND - Joseph S. Lawecki, 87, passed away at 8:46 pm, Wednesday, June 6, 2012 in Memorial Hospital. Joseph was born March 19, 1925 in South Bend to the late Boleslaw and Anna (Sasiad) Lawecki.

On June 3, 1950 in St. Charles Catholic Church, Bloomington, Indiana, Joseph married Kathleen Cates. She survives, along with daughters, Helene (Jerry) Cooper of South Bend and Mary Smith of Oregon, Wisconsin; sons, William (Melinda) Lawecki of Granger, Indiana and Joe Lawecki of South Bend; grandchildren, Jeremy (Kim) Cooper, Melanie (Tim) Lawwill, Ryan (Cristy) Cooper, Tori Lawecki, Heather (Rick) Smith Way, Amanda (John) Zepka, William Lawecki and Benjamin Lawecki; nine great-grandchildren; sister, Eugenia Pine of LaPorte, Indiana; and brother John Lawecki of South Bend, Indiana.

Joseph honorably served his country in the United States Army during World War II in the 8th Armored Division, and was awarded a Bronze Star. He played baseball for American Legion Post 357. Joseph attended Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, earned his Bachelors (Valedictorian Class of 1949) and Master's degree. Joseph was in the Indiana University Alumni Association. Joseph was an I.U. Letterman, and pitcher on the last Indiana University team to win the Big Ten regular season championship. He also played baseball for the St. Joe Athletic Club and pitched the first perfect game in St. Joseph County. Joseph was offered a baseball contract by the Chicago Cubs but declined. Joseph was a football, basketball and baseball coach at Washington High School. Joseph retired as a School Teacher/Administrator after many years of service. He was a past winner of the Sam Wegner Award. He was an avid Chicago White Sox fan and a gigantic Notre Dame fan. He was very passionate about his fruit trees. He was very much a family man; his wife, children and grandchildren meant the world to him.

From the SOUTH BEND (IN) TRIBUNE, June 9, 2012:

01/14/2022 DEC

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