Richard R. "Rich" Paczkowski

Rich was born to Julian and Helen (Banicki) Paczkowski on January 26, 1926. He had six siblings: Harry Paczkowski, Florence Chmiel, Ernie Paczkowski, Leo Paczkowski, Stanley & Erwin Paczkowski, all who predeceased him.

He married Luella (Bajdek) Paczkowski on October 11, 1947, and the couple was blessed with three children: Darlene (Paul) Hammons, Rick (Jo Eggink), and Kevin (Donna Witucki). He was also graced with five grandchildren: Shane, Tracy, Kim, Lauren & Benjamin and nine great-grandchildren: Tyler, Kylie, Sam, Wyatt, Madelyn, Emily, Alyssa, Chloe & Lucas.

Rich’s mother, Helen, passed away in 1933 when Rich was only seven years old, and at age 25, Rich lost his father, Julian, who died suddenly in 1951. These early losses left a profound mark on his life, so Rich was determined to hold his family close.

After attending Washington High School, Rich enlisted in the Navy at age 18 during World War II in February, 1944. He was assigned to the Navy Hospital Corps, serving in the dental group while stationed at Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois. Good-natured ribbing came from all his kids about how someone who could not swim a lick would choose to enter the Navy. The dental experience came in handy as Dad was often called into home duty of pulling loose teeth for his three kids. He downplayed his time in military service, always deferring to those who fought overseas, but was there to contribute to The Greatest Generation.

Honorably discharged from the Navy on June 10, 1946, Rich came home to his sweetheart Louella (Lou) and just over a year later they were married at St. Adalbert’s Catholic Church in South Bend. This storybook romance lasted 73 years until his heart and soul passed away on January 4, 2020. The two “love birds” spent their entire lives devoted to each other and their family. It is impossible to think of one without the other because every minute they spent together made their lives more complete. This included vacations to San Francisco, Florida, Toronto, and Nashville, where Rich insisted, he had the crowd cheering his impromptu washboard musical abilities at the Grand Ole Opry when he agreed to perform onstage in a makeshift band. Rich and Lou watched their family grow while experiencing every birthday, Christmas, Communion, graduation, wedding, and grandchildren’s birth while smiling and holding hands. How often Rich would say to his kids “Isn’t your mother beautiful” while gazing at her with a love that never ceased. As the years crept past their evenings were spent together watching old movies that Rich had recorded or sitting at their computers playing card games online. Love didn’t stop after Lou passed away, but life became much more difficult. Rich coped but he longed for his lifelong companion. He often thought of the weddings they attended when they seemed to always be the last couple on the floor during the dance to determine who was married the longest.

Like many other South Bend residents Rich’s initial employment was with Singer Sewing Machines. He moved to a delivery route with the Portage Oil Company. Somehow, while working all day and spending time with his growing family each night, he began taking courses through the LaSalle Extension University and completed his Basic and Practical Accounting degree in July 1958. Unwilling to end his education there, Rich completed the required training to become a Licensed Practical Accountant with the State of Indiana. This led to an accounting position with Interstate Restaurants and eventually to his ideal job with the Hoosier Spring Company, Inc. where he worked diligently to watch and help guide a startup company reach benchmark heights in their industry. He was proudest of this achievement and grateful to the Suth family for taking a chance on an unproven, eager and hardworking young accountant, always appreciating his financial skills, and providing for his family during his 25 plus years. A watch presented to Rich at his retirement in 1990 kept time of his fond work memories each day thereafter.

Rich had a lifelong passion for baseball which escalated with his involvement in Little League baseball beginning around 1960 and was a huge part of his life until hanging up his coaching gear almost 15 years later. As a coach, he never lost sight of what the meaning of Little League stood for and lobbied hard locally to pass a rule that every kid must play every game. His players looked up to him and loved to play with a coach who preached fun above all else but never lost his competitive spirit. This passion culminated in a trip to the Senior League World Series in 1972 as a coach of the local Maurice Matthys All Stars against teams from the U.S., Taiwan, Puerto Rico, and Germany. A lifelong Chicago White Sox and Notre Dame football fan, Rich seldom missed a game and loved to talk baseball of any decade.

As a dad, Rich was an incredible inventor of games to play with his children. Dad invented dice baseball and basketball games long before the age of the board or electronic versions existed. These games were played for hours while keeping stats that was a cornerstone of his accounting background and passion. Basketball games in the hallway with a tennis ball and a trash can that smashed many a door and trading card baseball and football games involving a clothespin and a checker on a living room rug that somehow doubled as a major league stadium were a family staple. Regular card games with his children and grandchildren never ceased. Later he could be found regularly playing Strat-O-Matic baseball and online checkers and cards.

A daily walk of usually 2-3 miles kept his mind fresh and his body in shape. A concession to a treadmill during the coldest weather and eventually an exercise bike after knee surgery, morphed into chair- bound calisthenics until the day he was recently taken to the hospital.

Faith was the foundation of everything Rich did. A lifelong South Bend resident, he grew up in the Catholic faith at St. Adalbert’s Church. Each day’s morning, evening and mealtime prayers was an opportunity to thank God for the life he was given and the blessings he received. Rich was a daily scripture reader and eventually had to concede to watching mass each Sunday on TV later in life, which he never missed. His entire life was based on faith. How he lived, how he treated people, how he loved his family, stood upon his faith in God and Jesus Christ. He was not the preaching type, but his actions and approach to everything made him a beacon of faith to his family and all who knew him.

Rich’s last two years without his bride left an unfillable void. He would often talk how he and Lou pondered who would go first and then wondered why he was still here. As rough as those last two years were, his life continued to touch those around him. The many conversations of faith, politics, sports, and life in general continued to be his most treasured possessions as his family circled around to help. During this time, two angels appeared to the family in Henrietta and Elayne who initially went from being caregivers to becoming the closest of friends and companions to Rich. The care, the love, and the attention they provided gave Rich two years of life that were not possible without them. Their efforts will never be forgotten by his entire family and we will be forever grateful for their friendship and kindness.

Rich could not bear to watch It’s a Wonderful Life at Christmas these past three years without Lou. Somehow it seems fitting though, that he passed during the Christmas season. Everyone who met Rich was touched by his life in such a tender, faith-filled, uplifting way. You will be missed but never forgotten.

Memorial Contributions may be directed to St. Adalbert’s Catholic Church, 2505 W Grace Street, South Bend, IN 46619

A private visitation will be held for immediate family and a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 6th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Adalbert’s Catholic Church welcome to all. Burial will immediately follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, South Bend. St. Joseph Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences may be left for the family at sjfh.net

01/01/2023 EJS