Robert J. Urban

Former South Bend Police Chief Robert J. Urban, 59, of 3006 Bonds Ave., died at 1:45 a.m. Monday in his home after an illness. Mr. Urban, a retired police officer, was chief from April 1973 until November 1974. He also had been chief of detectives and Services Division chief. He retired from the department in 1977, after 20 years of service. In serving in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, Mr. Urban was twice wounded. He was dis-charged as a staff sergeant.

Mr. Urban was born July 15, 1929, in South Bend, and was a lifelong area resident. On May 14, 1960, in South Bend, he married Betty J. Flowers, who survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Beverly Niedbalski of South Bend; two sons, Bruce of Mishawaka and Barry at home; two grandchildren; a sister, Frances Friar of Big Rapids, Mich.; a brother, Henry Jr. of Fairfax, Va.; and his mother, Anna Urban of South Bend.

He was a member of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 36, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8748, Anchor Conservation Club and St. Joseph Young Men's Society. He was com-mander of Disabled American Veterans No. 39 and past commander of American Legion Post 50.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Wednesday in Kaniewskl & Sons Funeral Home, where a parish rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Memorial contribu-tions may be made to the Ameri-can Cancer Society or Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 36. 

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com, and FindAGrave.com

11/12/2023 EJS