June
8, 1928 - Jan. 2, 2010SOUTH BEND - Joseph W. "Radio Joe" Prawat, formerly of Elkhart, passed away Saturday, January 2, 2010, at Healthwin Specialized Care where he resided due to an illness. He was 81 years old. Joseph was born on June 8, 1928, to Walter and Lillian Prawat in South Bend. He was preceded in death by his parents. In June 1956 he married Mary Margaret Hill. Surviving Joe are their three children, Creighton (Janet) Prawat of Bremen, Thomas (Linda Sisson) Prawat of Elkhart and Elizabeth (Carlos) Ferra of South Bend; 10 grandchildren; a sister, Rose Marie Szuba of Osceola; and two brothers, Ralph (Gloria) Prawat of Granger and Dr. James (Carole) Prawat of Richmond, IN. Joe served in the Army's 40th Infantry, 115th Battalion Ambulance and Clearing Co., Kumwan Valley, North Korea. After one tour of duty he was honorably discharged with one service star, Occupation Medal Japan, Korean Service Medal and United Nations Service Medal. After discharge Joe attended Ivy Tech of South Bend and earned a Television and Aerial Repair License, repairing television and auto radios. "Radio Joe" retired after 25 years of business in Elkhart, IN, at South Main by the tracks. Visitation will be Friday, January 8, from 3 to 7 p.m. in Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th Street, Mishawaka. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home on Saturday, January 9, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, with military rites by VFW Post 360/American Legion 161 Burial Team. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the Center for the Homeless for the Veterans Center at www.cfh.net. To leave the family an online condolence or to share memories with the family, please visit our website at www.hahnfuneralhomes.com.