April
25, 1926 - March 15, 2010SOUTH BEND - John B. "Johnny" Nowinski, 83, formerly of South Walnut Street, South Bend, and later St. Paul's Retirement Community, South Bend, passed away peacefully at 2:21 a.m. Monday morning surrounded by family at the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care of South Bend. He was born on April 25, 1926, to John and Henrietta (Demski) Nowinski, and had been a lifetime resident. John followed in his father's footsteps and became a meat cutter at W.W. Wilts Supermarket. He retired from there in 1987. He was also a former employee of Studebaker. He loved his church, his family, watching baseball and softball games at Walker Field, and spent many hours growing flowers. He loved going to movies and playing euchre. He was also an avid Notre Dame football fan. John served his country during World War II and the Korean War. On February 16, 1952, he married Mary Jane Wojciechowski in St. Hedwig Catholic Church. Mary Jane passed away on February 21, 2009. Together they celebrated 57 years of marriage. He is survived by three daughters, Mary Kay (Leonard) Wenzel, Mary Sue (Rick) Cross, both of South Bend, and Mary Ellen (Greg) Fobe of Mishawaka, IN; four sons, Kenneth of Mishawaka, IN, Thomas (Ronna) of Granger, IN, James of South Bend and Michael (Stacy) of Layton, UT. He is also survived by his grandchildren, John Nowinski, Justin Vera, Matt Wenzel, Amy Wenzel, Kyle Fobe, Lisa Nowinski, Michelle Sinkovics, Sherry Lauren and Angie Seigert; one great-grandchild, Nolan Nowinski. Also surviving are his sisters, Corinne (George) Patton of South Bend, IN, and Donna (Bill) Niemann of Edwardsburg, MI; and a brother-in-law, Lynn Cotterman of Indianapolis, IN; numerous nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Ronald, and a sister, Patricia Cotterman. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 20th, at 10:00 a.m. in Our Lady of Hungary Catholic Church. Friends may call in the Zahoran Funeral Home, 1826 Kemble Ave., on March 19th from 3 to 8 p.m. A parish Rosary will be prayed at 3:30 p.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery, with military honors. Johnny was a devout Roman Catholic, member of Our Lady of Hungary Church, a member of the Holy Name Society and a trustee for the church. The family would like to thank the staff of St. Joseph Hospital, especially Gail and Kristie, and the devoted and caring staff of the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, and a family friend, Brenda King, for their loving care and attention. Memorial contributions may be made to the Our Lady of Hungary Catholic Church Building Fund. To leave the family an online condolence or to share memories with the family, please visit our website at www.zahoran.com, or our Facebook page, Zahoran Funeral Home. Johnny touched the lives of every person lucky enough to have met him and he will be truly missed. A light is from our household gone A voice we loved is stilled. A place is vacant in our home. Which never can be filled. 'Twas hard to part with one so dear We little thought the time was near. Farewell dear one, your life is past. Our love for you till end will last. We have to mourn the loss of one We did our best to save. Beloved on earth, regretted still. Remembered in the grave.