OBITS
OF ST JOSEPH CO, SO BEND IN
FOUND IN GONIEC POLSKI, SOUTH
BEND TRIBUNE, REGISTER, MISHAWAKA
ENTERPRISE
[To assist those who will in future years will be seeking data on their families, I have
taken the liberty of including [from obits] - family members who have married,
changed their names, or moved away.] Gertrude “Lucky” Ladewski
BOLKA_to_ BORKOWSKI
ELIZABETH [BETTY] G BOLKA - MRS JOHN R LONG
b] 28 Aug 1894 South Chicago IN; d] 10 Nov 1978, at age 84. In 1924 in St
Joseph Mich she married John Long who died in 1960. Surviving children are: Mrs
Florence I Toensing of Mishawaka, and Richard Long of St Louis MO.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JOHN BOLKA [ AKA BALKA]
b] 24 Jun 1858 Szubin Poland; d] 23 Mar 1939, age 80. Services at St Adalbert's
Catholic Church, burial at St Joseph Cem. In Poland he married Jozefa Maslowski [aka
Mastraska, Moslaska]. Their children: John F Jr, Mrs Helen Zalas, William, Roman J,
Mrs Leokadya Molnar, Mrs Gustie Superczynski and Stella.
JOZEFA BOLKA - NEE MASLOWSKI
b] 9 Jan 1863 Szubin Poland; d] 8 Jan 1943, age 79. Would have been 80 the next
day; ill for 2 months. Died at the home of her daughter Mrs Joseph Zalas of 1809
Werwinski. Services at St Adalbert's Catholic Church, burial at St Joseph Cem. Her son,
Pvt Roman left for Camp Perry OH on Thursday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------WILLIAM BOLKA
b] 4 Nov 1903; a lifelong resident; d] 29 Oct 1985, age 81 of 2010 1/2 Western
Ave at 5:10 a.m. in Carlyle Nursing Home. He retired from Singer Manufacturing Co.
Services and burial at St Joseph Cemetery.
He is survived by a brother, Roman of South Bend.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MICHELLE MARIE BOLLINGER - NEE DERANEK
b] 12 Oct 1955, & lived her most of her life; d] 13 Jan 1955, age 23 of
Indianapolis at 10:30 p.m. Friday in Indiana University Hospital, Indianapolis, after an
extended illness. As Michele Marie Deranek on 6 Aug 1977 in So Bend, she married Jon
L Bollinger who survives. Also surviving are her parents, Mr & Mrs Dennis F Deranek
of So Bend and her maternal grandmother, mrs Clara Micinski of So Bend. Services at St
Hedwig Catholic Church, burial at St Joseph Cemetery. She was a 1973 graduate of St
Joseph's High School and a 1977 graduate of Purdue University.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LUDWIG BOLODAR
b] 15 Sept 1906 in St Louis MO; d] 9 Mar 1960 of 411 Grant St, after suffering a
heart attack. Serives at St Adabert's Catholic Church, burial at St Joseph Cemetery.
Survivors are his wife Anne and one step daughter, Mrs Mary Steel of LaPorte IN; four
sisters, Mrs Anne Elli, Mrs Malgorzata Rice, Mrs Ethel Hudak and Mrs Rozalie Underly
and a brother, Julius Bolodar. - Translated from Goniec Polski
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ALFREDA BONCZYNSKI - MRS JOSEPH F CENCELEWSKI
d] 3 Jan 1983 [husband's obit]
JOSEPH F CENCELEWSKI
b] 8 Apr 1917; d] 27/28 Feb 1986, age 68 of 1343 Canterbury Drive, Thursday in
Bullhead City Nev. while on vacation. He retired in 1983 from AM General. Served as
a Marive in WW II, buried at St Joseph Cemetery. On 22 Feb 1941 mar Alfreda
Bonczynski, who died 3 Jan 1983. Children: Mrs Darlene Lisek, Mrs Sharon Rozewicz
of Louisville TX, Mrs Patty Basinski, Ronald of South Bend and Robert Cencelewski of
Kingman AZ.
CAROL M BONCZYNSKI - NEE ISHIRK - w/1 George
b] 9 Nov 1931 in So Bend & had lived here all her life; d] 4 May 1981, age 49 of
56927 Crunstown Hwy; died at 3:13 p.m. Monday at Osteopathic Hospital after a two
month illness. On 5 Sept 1953 in So Bend she married George Bonczynski, who
survives. Also surviving are three daughters, Mrs Nancy Seidl, Mrs Gail Cundiff &
Miss Lidia Bonczynski, all of So Bend, a son Daniel of So Bend, four grandchildren, a
sister, Mrs Patricia Turillo of Generous Town PA and her fahter, Delmer Ishirk of So
Bend. Services at Forest G hay Funeral HOme. Rev Tim Storms, pastor of the Milburn
Blvd Church of Christ will officiate. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
PATRICIA F HOLMES - w/2 George
b] 3 Apr 1929 in Plymouth IN; d] 30 Sept 1995, age 66 of Crumstown Highway;
died at 5 p.m. Saturday in lakeview Community Hospital, Paw Paw MI of natural causes.
On 19 May 1984 in So Bend as Patricia F Holmes, she married George A Bonczynski.
He survives with a daughter, Sharon Holmes of So Bend, two sons, Larry Holmes of So
Bend and Ricky Holmes of Flint MI, three stepdaughters, mrs nancy Seidl, Mrs Gail
Condiff and Mrs Lydia Lubinski all of So Bend; a stepson Daniel of So Bend; 10
grandchildren; two great grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs Mabel Tusing of Milford IN
and Mrs Helen Pratt of California. She was a member of Westside Church of Christ.
Serivices in the church; burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ELINOR BONCZYNSKI - MRS CALMAN V VARGO
d] 1954 [per husband's obit]
CALMAN V VARGO
b] 4 Apr 1908; d] 17 Jan 1992, age 83 of 2226 N Olive at 3:14 p.m. in the
emergency room at Memorial Hospital. He retired after 37 years from Studebakers.
Services at West Side Church of Christ, burial at Highland Cemetery. His first wife,
Elinor Bonczynski died in 1954. On 3 Sept 1956 in Westfield New York he married
Lucille Nowakowski, who survives.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------STELLA BONCZYNSKI - ZIENKOWSKI - JASKIEWICZ
b] 24 Oct 1883; d] 7 Aug 1960, age 76, buried St Joseph Cem. On 27 Nov 1906
mar Michael Zienkowski [aka Ziemkowski]. On 28 Oct 1918 at St Mary's Polish
National Catholic Church married Joseph J Jaskiewicz. Witnesses at marriage:
Bronislaw Beck & Maryann Sosnowski.
JOSEPH J JASKIEWICZ
B] 11 Feb 1880; arrived in USA 28 Feb 1902; d] 28 Nov 1963, age 83 of 5223
Floral Place; died of old age. One of the signers of the Charter with the State of Indiana
to legalize St Mary's Polish National Catholic Church in So Bend. His first wife was
Mary Szulczewski. Their children were Helena, Alicy Getruda [aka Elsie] & Georgiana
Jaskiewicz. Buried at St Joseph's Cemetery.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SYLVESTER BONCZYNSKI
b] 17 Nov 1915 in So Bend and was a lifelong resident; d] 3 Jun 1994, age 78 of
Sunnyfield Place; died about 5:46 p.m. Friday in Memorial Hospital. He retired from
Stanley Enterprises as a machinist. Surviving are four sisters, mrs Theresa Zarembka,
Mrs marie Przygoda, Mrs Evelyn Pacala and Mrs Lillian Szynski all of So Bend. Services
at St Casimir's Catholic Church, burial at St Joseph's Cemetery. Veteran of WW II.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SYLVESTER BONEK
b] 31 Dec 1897; d] 18 Sept 1979, age 81 of 1506 W Poland after a long illness.
Retired from Studebakers. Services at St Casimir's Catholic Church; buried at St Joseph
Cem. On 1 Feb 1921 he married Martha Reiter, who survives with a daughter, Mrs Mary
Ann Whittington of Rifle Colorado; 4 sons: Ernest, Eugene, Daniel and Robert Bonek of
South Bend.
*** Note: Martha Reiter Bonek later married --- MILLER and lived in
Indianapolis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------VERENA BONEK - MRS FRANK JANICKI
b] 1895; d] 17 Aug 1979, age 83 at the Carlyle Nursing Home after a long illness.
Services at St Casimir's Catholic Church, burial at St Joseph Cem. On 22 Sept 1914
married Frank Janicki who died in 1965. Surviving children: Mrs Lorraine Wiltrout, Mrs
Clara Fujawa, Mrs Virginia Hudak, Mrs Esther Stodolny and a son, Chester Janicki of
Rockford Ill.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------STANISLAW BONIEWSKI
b] 1892; d] 14 Jan 1937, buried at St Joseph Cem Old Sec H lot 163. Service
record: Serial #1-993,657
enlisted in US Army 12 Dec 1917; discharged 19 Mar 1919, WW I. Indiana Pvt, 669th
Aero Squardron
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FRANCES BONISLAWSKI - NEE RATAJCZAK [AKA RATACZYK], w/o
Constantine
b] 1861 Poland; d] 29 Mar 1938, age 77 in Chicago IL. She is survived by two
sisters, Mrs Mary Urbanski, and Mrs Magdaline Misko of Philadelphia PA.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JOHN J BONK
b] 1855 Poland; d] 3 Jun 1964 at 12:01 a.m. at the Hillview Convalescent Home
in Mishawaka IN> He came to So Bend 60 years ago. Serices at St Adalbert's Catholic
Church, burial at St Joseph Cem. On 18 Feb 1908 married his first wife, Agata Postula
who died in 1914. On 4 May 1914 mar wife 2] Maryanna Tyl who survives. Children of
both marriages: Joseph Bonk of Albuquerque New Mexico, Frank D Bonk, Mrs Anna
Kwiecinski, Ms GEnevieve Bazan, VAlentine & Adam Bonk and Mrs Mryann Ullery.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JOSEPHINE BORCZAK - BARCZAK - MRS MAX GRAMS SR
b] 20 Apr 1890; d] 27 Oct 1985, age 95 of 1950 Ridgedale Rd, at 1:30 p.m. in
Medco Center, after an illness. Services at St Matthew's Cathedral, burial at Cedar Grove
Cemetery. On 7 Sept 1910 at St Casimir's Catholic Church she married Max Grams Sr,
who died in 1963. Children: John Daniel, Max Grams Jr of Louisville KY and Jordom
Grams. She leaves a brother, Casimir Bardyck.
MAX GRAMS SR
b] 1895; d] 18 Nov 1963, age 69 of 1309 E Altgeld at 3:45 p.m., having been ill
for 3 weeks. Was employed in the Engineering Dept for the city of South Bend for 15
years; and also for the So Bend Water Works. Lived in So Bend for 65 years at 724 W
Dunham. Services at St Patrick's Catholic Church, burial at Cedar Grove Cem. Children
[as per wife's obit]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MARY BOREK - NEE ZBRZESNY; w/o Wlady [Lawrence] Borek
b] 1890 Poland; d] 9 Feb 1919; age 26 of 917 w/e W Sample, died Sunday at St
Joseph's Hospital. Services at St Hedwig Catholic Church, burial at St Joseph Cem. She
arrived in USA in 1913. In 1913 she married Wlady Borek who survives, with a
duaghter Angela. Survivors include one brother, Antony Zbrzesny.
DR. NIKODEM G BORISOWICZ - [AKA BORISIEWICZ]
b] 14 Feb 1852 Poland; d] 12 Sept 1918 ch 49 p 46, age 66. Medical doctor;
graduated from Imperial Univerity of Harkow Russia in 1886. Married Klementina
Dydzinski in Pennsylvania. - See Howard's History of St Joseph County, Vol 1 p 545
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ARTHUR JOSEPH BORKOWSKI
b] 19 Feb 1916; d] 1 Sept 1979, age 63 of 1726 S Walnut at 9 p.m. Saturday in
Healthwin Hospital after a elngthy illness. He was a former employee of the Studebaker
Corp and a former bartender. Lived here all of his life. Services at St Casimir's Catholic
Church. Burial in St Joseph Cem. World War II veteran having served in the US Navy.
In Jun 1937 he married Alice Kluszczynski. She died in Jan. 1972. Surviving are 3
daughters; Mrs Geraldine Bourdon & Mrs Viola Young, both of So Bend and Joyce
Borkowski of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; 10 grandchildren; a great grandchild;
and two sisters, Mrs Viola Dargiewicz and Mrs Phyllis Vadas, both of South Bend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CASIMIR F BORKOWSKI
b] 22 Feb 1908; d] 3 May 1950 of RR 1 Box 197, burial at St Joseph Cemetery.
Service records:
Serial 35327-385, next of kin Mike Borkowski, brother of R#1, Box 439 Myrtle Rd.
Enlisted 13 May 1942; discharged 19 May 1945. Indiana PFC. 38th Infantry, WW II,
BSM PN
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CATHARINE BORKOWSKI, NEE GRAMZA; w/o John L
b] 23 Nov 1883; d] 22 Jan 1938, age 54 of 534 S Carlisle, having been ill 6 mon.
Mrs Borkowski was a teacher. Services at St Adalbert's Catholic Church, burial at Cedar
Grove Cem. In 1905 she married John L Borkowski. Children: Louise R, John Jr,
Clement, Marie and Clara Borkowski.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CLEM T BORKOWSKI
b] 15 Nov 1912; d] 25 Aug 1995, age 82 of Riverside Drive, died at 12:51 p.m.
Friday in Transitional Health Services. He retired in 1970 as a firefighter for the So Bend
Fire Dept after 22 years. Services at St Stanislaus Catholic Church, burial at St Joseph
Cem. WW II Army Veteran. On 4 Oct 1952 in Rolling Prarie IN he married Florence L
Dolniak who survives. There are no other survivors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------EDMUND BORKOWSKI
b] 27 Oct 1907; d] 13 Oct 1964, age 54 of 1726 S Walnut. He was a bellhop at
the Oliver Hotel and had been ill for 1 month. Burial at St Joseph Cemetery.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------EVELYN I BORKOWSKI - w/o Walter
Private memorial services for Evelyn I Borkowski, age 75 of 515 E Monroe St,
who died at 3:05 p.m. Saturday [ d] 23 Nov 1985] in Memorial Hospital after an illness,
were Sunday in Unity Church. Cremation will take place with burial in St Joseph Valley
Memorial Park, Granger IN. Mrs Borkowski was b] 30 Jul 1910 in Parke County IN &
had been living here since 1934. She married Walter Borkowski who died in 1966.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs Gayle Hennings of Tucson, Ariz; three sons; Garry D
of So Bend; John David of Holand Mich and Peter D of Jenison Mich; 10 grandchildren;
5 great grandchildren; and a half sister. McGann Funeral Home is in charge of
arrangements.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FRANK BORKOWSKI
b] 1 Apr 1906; d] 11 Oct 1978 of 22725 Kern Rd, age 72. In 1930 he married
Rose Horvath who survives with two daughters, Mrs Rose Lechlitner and Mrs Betty
Kolacz; two sons, James and Rick Borkowski, all of South Bend.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JOHN BORKOWSKI JR
b] 20 Jan 1906; d] 11 Nov 1984, age 78 of 2625 Prast Blvd. He retired in 1956 as
a Captain in So Bend Fire Dept after 27 years. Services at St John the Baptist Catholic
Church; burial at St Joseph Cemetery. On 20 Aug 1928 he married Eugenia Lisiecki who
survives with two daughters, mrs Dolores Flory and Mrs Eileen Wroblewski, all of So
Bend.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JOSEPH J BORKOWSKI
b] 13 Nov 1912; d] 15 Dec 1985, age 73 of 2225 N Johnson St; died at 8:40 p.m.
Friday in St Joseph's Medical Center. He was a former salesman for both Bryant Berg Co
in Hammond and for Skinner's. Lived in the area most of his life. Services at Corpus
Christi Catholic Church and burial at Highland Cemetery. On 17 Nov 1934 in So Bend
he married the former Irene Kieloch, who survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Pamm
Borkowski of Charlotte NC, a son, David J Borkowski of Seattle Wash; two
grandchildren, a sister Mrs Bernice Closson of Brandenton Beach Fla, and a brother,
Adam of So Bend.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUDITH BORKOWSKI - NEE SINGLETON; w/o Clement J Borkowski
The daughter of Lloyd E [Buck] Singletone and Irene Ewald [aka Awald], died
1947. Two brothers, Lloyd Singleton Jr of Ft Wayne IN and Kenneth Singleton. [Family
obit data]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LIDELA V BORKOWSKI BAZAN - NEE PRZYBYSZ
So Bend Tribune: b] 22 Dec 1911; d] 11 Mar 1986, age 74, services at St
Casimir's Catholic Church, burial at St Joseph Cem. On 7 Feb 1948 she married husband
#2] John J Bazan. Children: Mrs mary Ann Heiller of So Windson CT and Michael C
Borkowski of North Liberty IN, also John J Bazan Jr. She had two sisters, Mrs Emily
Meek and Mrs Rita Guzicki and a brother, Robert Przybysz.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MARY BORKOWSKI - MRS THOMAS CIESIELSKI
b] 29 Nov 1885 Inowraclaw Poland; d] 17 Sept 1936, age 50 of 510 S Kaley.
Services at St Adalbert's Catholic Church, burial at Cedar Grove Cem. On 7 Feb 1899
she married Thomas Ciesielski who died in 1934. Children: matthew, Alfred Sr, Modest,
Chester andThomas Ciesielski Jr; two daughters, Mrs Elsie Cwidak and Mrs Violet
Jozwiak. Her family: Ladislaus, Victor of Schnetedy New York, Mrs Frank Grzeszczyk,
Sister Mary Francells, CSC.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MARYANN BORKOWSKI - MRS DOUGLAS C MERRIL
OBIT OF HUSBAND DOUGLAS - b] 23 Sept 1940; d] 31 Jan 1982, age 41 of
20850 Johnson Road after a brief illness. He was the owner of Fortols Restaurant at 119
W Ireland. Serives at First Baptist Church in Mishawaka IN, burial at Chapel Hill
Memorial Gardens. Children: Bonnie Ann & Douglas C Jr. One sister, Mrs Sharon
Maples of Freeport IL.
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