Submitted by: John C. Monk

Chester Grabarek

April 20, 1925 - Jan. 8, 2010
OSCEOLA - Chester A. Grabarek, 84, of Osceola, IN, passed away at 9:30 a.m. Friday, January 8th, in his residence after suffering an apparent heart attack. Mr. Grabarek was born on April 20, 1925, in South Bend, and resided in the Michiana area his lifetime. On November 3, 1951, in St. Joseph County, he married the former Mary Jane Clemens, who preceded him in death. He is survived by several nieces and nephews. Chester was a WW II US Army veteran who received two Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars during the war. He was proud of his country and never regretted serving during the war. He retired from Uni-Royal Corp. in Mishawaka, IN, after many years of service. He was an engineer with Uni-Royal. He loved hunting, fishing, golfing, and was a great sportsman. He also loved woodworking and was an avid cook. He was a man of outstanding character, an honorable man who liked honesty and good character in the people he associated with. He was a wonderful husband and uncle who will be dearly missed by his loving nieces and nephews, and all who had the opportunity to know this wonderful man. Mr. Grabarek was a member of the Osceola American Legion Post, VFW Post 2284, Loyal Order of the Moose 1262, NRA, Elkhart Yeoman of York and the Mishawaka Masonic Lodge 130 F&AM. The family would like to request that all memorial contributions be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, Chicago Unit, 2211 North Oak Park Avenue, Chicago, IL 60707-3392. Visitation hours will be from 4-8 p.m. today, January 11th, in Hanley & Sons "Southwest Chapel" Funeral Home, located at West Ireland Road / Indiana 23, South Bend. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 12th, in the funeral home. Military graveside services will be held at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola, IN. The Hanley & Sons "Southwest Chapel" Funeral Home handled arrangements and services and extends its deepest sympathy and hearfelt prayers to the family of Chester A. Grabarek.

Published in South Bend Tribune on January 11, 2010