All Obituaries

SOUTH BEND– Susan Marie Fujawa, 79, passed away Wednesday, March 15, 2023 in St. Joseph Regional Med Center, surrounded by her family.  Sue was born on July 12, 1943 to Leslie and Dorothy (Zahoran) Toth. She graduated from Our Lady of Hungary Grade School and after graduating Riley High School in 1961 worked for 12 years for Associates. On April 11, 1970, she married Charles Stanley Fujawa who survives along with a son, Timothy (Megan) Fujawa. She was blessed with 3 adopted...

Nancy Jo Kish-Gomes was born November 26, 1943 to Joseph and Lottie (Jurczak) Kish in South Bend, Indiana. Nancy graduated from St Joseph High School. After high school, she worked in a clerical position at St. Mary’s Academy. In 1962 she re-located in Arlington Virginia and worked for the Intellegence Agency. She then returned back to South Bend to work 19 years for the Bendix Corporation.eventually she returned to St. Mary’s and retired from the Sisters of Holy Cross in...

SOUTH BEND– Wilhelm J. Forstinger, 62, passed away at 2:15pm Saturday, March 4, 2023 in Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family.   Wilhelm was born on March 15, 1960 in Vienna, Austria to Wilhelm and Elizabeth (Gartner) Forstinger.  Wilhelm “Willi” was employed by General Stamping & Metalworks for over 20 years. He was a hard worker displaying outstanding work ethic. Providing for his family and giving generously in so many ways. Willi meant so much, to...

Gilbert (Gil) Laware passed away peacefully in St. Joseph Regional Med Center surrounded by his family. He was born to Irene and Errick Laware on June 18, 1942, in Waterford (Troy), N.Y. Gil graduated from LaSalle Institute in 1960, Siena College (Loudonville, NY) in 1964, and obtained his master’s degrees from Fairleigh Dickinson University (Teaneck, NJ) in 1968 and Iona College (New Rochelle, NY) in 1974. On June 28, 1969, he married Jeannine (St. Pierre) Laware (now deceased) at...

Thomas R. “Tommy” Folding, 58, passed away at 9:59pm Wednesday, February 22, 2023 in his residence.   Tommy was born on December 4, 1964 in South Bend to Tibor and Margareth (Ratkay) Folding.  His father Tibor survives along with two sisters Lisa (Bruce) Huntington and Agnes Schleiger, three brothers Les Toth, Steven (Carol) Toth, and Tibor John Folding, as well as numerous loving nieces and nephews   He was preceded in death by his mother Margareth Folding,...

Myron H. Wiegand, 90, passed away on Saturday, February 25, 2023 in his home, surrounded by his family.   Myron was born on April 25, 1932 in South Bend to William and Mildred (Grise) Wiegand.  He retired from Hass Concrete where he served as plant superintendent and general manager.   On March 24, 1978 he married Becky Hagquist who survives along with a daughter Julie (Erv) Koszyk, three sons Kurt (Rebecca) Wiegand, Eric (Lisa) Wiegand, and James (Judy) Molnar, two...

B. JoAnn (Schmidt) Popielski was born on May 22, 1930 in Belle Fourche, South Dakota and grew up in the Black Hills, SD area. After training at Black Hills Teachers College, she worked at the South Dakota School of Mines until she adventurously moved across the country with a friend.  They settled in South Bend, where she met Daniel Popielski. They married on December 26, 1957 and shared 60 years together until his passing on January 16, 2018. JoAnn was employed as a secretary until...

Rodney Marks Bogue, 70, passed away on Friday, February 3, 2023.   He was born on January 7, 1953 in South Bend to Robert and Eleanor (Shaw) Bogue.  They preceded him in death along with two sisters-in-law Suzan Cherrone and Theresa Bogue.  On July 29, 2006 in Walkerton, he married the former Lisa Ann Lynn who survives.   Also surviving are a daughter Jennifer (Eric) Gravseth, a son Dustin (Lindsay) Hankins, 4 grandchildren Shelby, Keegan, Leiya, and Tate, a sister...

Kenneth W. Dixon, 63, passed away at 3:59pm Thursday, January 19, 2023 in the Raclin House at the Center for Hospice. Ken was born on December 29, 1959 in Elkhart.  He was employed by Lippert Components for 10 years and was a member of the Moose Lodge #599 in Elkhart. On August 12, 2017 he married Lee Morgan who survives along with three step-daughters Dawn (Chris) Young, Brenda Vargas, and Tina (Josh) Harman, a step-son Robert (Michele) Miller, three step-grandchildren Michael...

William “Bill” Niemann, 83, passed away Saturday, January 21, 2023 at home with his wife of 62 years by his side.   Bill was born on October 15, 1939 in South Bend to Walter and Louise (Gruber) Niemann. On March 12, 1960 he married his high school sweetheart Donna Nowinski.  She survives along with a daughter Janelle Stewart, two sons Joseph (Andrea) Niemann and Dr. TJ (Melissa) Niemann, six grandchildren Mitchell (Lias) Niemann, Dr. Cassandra Niemann, Jake Stewart,...