Joseph C. Mackowiak

SOUTH BEND - Joseph C. Mackowiak, 90, passed away at 8:15 a.m. on Friday, February 5, 2010, in Cardinal Nursing Home. Joseph was born on December 13, 1919, in South Bend, to the late Joseph A. and Jennie (Chrzan) Mackowiak. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Aloysius Mackowiak, and wife Betty, and sister, Henrietta Gerbasich.

On August 23, 1947, Joseph married Virginia (Bilinski), who survives along with their children, Sandra (James) Rodewald of Frankton, IN, Patrick Mackowiak of South Bend, Diane (John) Hanson of Elgin, IL, and Thomas Mackowiak of East Lansing, MI; twin sister, Mary Mackowiak, sister, Georgianne (Gene) Szweda; brother, Clem (Mary Jane) Mackowiak; and brother-in-law, Victor Gerbasich; grandchildren, Kristen (David) Butler, Craig (Mandy) Rodewald, Todd (Stacie) Rodewald, Jason (April) Rodewald, Andrew Rodewald and Sara Rodewald, and Megan, Matthew and Melissa Mackowiak; and six great-grandchildren.

Joseph retired from the South Bend School Corporation in 1982 after 35 years, where he was a teacher at South Bend Central, and he also worked in the Administration Department in Pupil Personnel. He was a football and baseball coach and an athletic official for the South Bend Community School Corporation and started the first High School Football County Program at Woodrow Wilson High School. Joseph served his country in the United States Navy during WWII, based in Honolulu and New York City.

He received his B.S. in mathematics, chemistry and physics from Canterbury College (Indiana Central), his master's from Indiana University (Bloomington) in administration, and additional hours from Columbia University and the University of Notre Dame. He was a member of American Legion Pulaski Post #357, PNA #83, MR Falcons, and St. Joseph County and Indiana State Teachers Retirement Association. Joseph was a football usher for the University of Notre Dame for over 50 years, and worked at Martin's Supermarket on Western Avenue for 12 years. He was also a member of the St. Joseph Young Men's Society and was inducted into the Washington High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He was a parishioner of Holy Family Catholic Church where he belonged to the Usher Club for over 60 years.

Sources: Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com

03/14/2024 EJS