JOSEPH S. LAWECKI

Mar. 19, 1925 - June 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.

Visitation will be 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Sunday, June 10, 2012 in ST. JOSEPH FUNERAL HOME, 824 S. Mayflower Rd. where a Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 pm. A Funeral Liturgy will be 10:00 am on Monday, June 11, 2012 in the funeral home. Burial services will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, 702 Chapin St., South Bend, Indiana 46601 or to the Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, 705 Riley Hospital Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202. The family sends their heart-felt thank you to Memorial Hospital. We wish to acknowledge the St. Joseph Visiting Nurses Association for all their kindness over the past two and a half years.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Jun. 9, 2012.

04/27/2023 EJS

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