EDWARD S. SLABY

May 4, 1923 - May 4, 2010
GRANGER - Edward S. Slaby, 87, died Tuesday, May 4th, at his home in Granger, IN, after an extended illness. He was born in South Bend to the late Adam and Matilda (Pazduira) Slaby, and was a lifetime member in the area. On August 22, 1953, he married Jeanette (Jan) Mueller in St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Ed graduated from Washington High School and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He proudly served his country for the next three years. Most of that time was spent on the ship, the U.S. Betelgeuse, and he and his mates were the first to "hit the beach" for the invasion of Okinawa. To this day he had remained in close contact with his Navy friends attending reunions all over the country.

After his Navy stint, he worked at Bendix in the experimental division and then joined the South Bend Police Department. While on the department, he worked in the Detective Bureau and the Juvenile Aid Division. He was particularly proud of his work in starting the School Crossing Guard program. Ed spent 20 years with the police department and then worked for J.C. Penny Store for the next 24 years. Ed was a member of the U.S.S. Betelgeuse AKA-11 Survivors Club, South Bend Turners, Elks Club, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 36, American Legion Post 357 and the St. Joseph Young Men's Society. He was a member of Holy Cross Church for the past 40 years. In addition to his wife, Jeanette,

Ed is survived by a daughter, Linda Pfleger (Bill) of Downer's Grove, IL; a son, Norm (Verna) of South Bend; a grandson, Max Hueike of Oakland, CA; and four step-grandchildren, John, Theresa, Jess and Caitlin Pfleger; a sister, Gloria Wasikowski (Norbert); one brother, Eugene (Lucretia) of Annadale, VA; and many great-nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were three sisters, Genevieve Kancruzewski whose husband, Ted, resides in Florida, Helen Berus (Tony) and Adeline Zmyslo (Chet).

Ed was a great N.D. football fan and enjoyed traveling the country for the games; he loved to golf, play cards and haunt the Humane Society in search of a dog or cat that needed to be rescued. There were many! A very special thanks from Ed and the family for the marvelous and loving care he received from the Hospice Team. They are truly God's special Angels.

Thank you to Dr. Mokfi for taking such great care of Ed during his many and varied illnesses.

Visitation will be held in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home on Cleveland Road from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today, May 6. A ritual will be give by the Fraternal Order of Police at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 7, in Holy Cross Church on Wilbur Street, South Bend. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Center for Hospice, 225, US 20 East, Elkhart, IN 46516; to F.O.P. Lodge #36, P.O. Box 299, South Bend, IN 46601; or to the South Bend Humane Society, 2506 Grape Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545. E-mail condolences may be sent to www.welsheimer.com.

Published by South Bend Tribune on May 6, 2010.

05/19/2023 EJS

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