Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 9/8/1999

John E. Probst

Feb. 19, 1904 - Sept. 6, 1999

John E. Probst, 95, former resident of South Bend, Ind., died at 1:30 a.m. on Monday morning, Sept. 6, in Leesburg, Fla. He had spent the evening with his son, Chris, and had seemed in good health then.

Mr. Probst was born in the Probst House, then at 334 North Hill Street, to Henry and Cynthia Probst on Feb. 19, 1904. He was educated at St. Joseph Grade School, South Bend High School, and the University of Notre Dame. He graduated in mechanical engineering in 1926 and joined the Indiana and Michigan Electric Company's Engineering Department. In the late forties he moved to Wyandotte, Mich., and the Wyandotte Chemical Company.

After retirement he lived for several years at Pleasant Lake, Three Rivers, Mich. He and Mrs. Probst (nee Elvera Lytle, deceased, 1995) moved to Leesburg when Michigan winters no longer seemed tolerable. Mr. Probst was an avid chess and bridge player. He was a lifelong fisherman.

Mr. Probst is survived by three sons, Richard of Panama City, Fla., John (Lynn McBride) of Southfield, Mich., and Chris (Karlyn Leasenby) of Virginia Beach, Va.; and six grandchildren.

His sister, Angela, Mrs. John H. McNamara of South Bend, is the sole survivor of a family of nine which produced approximately two hundred attendees at a 1998 Henry and Cynthia Probst family reunion.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Page-Theus Funeral Home, 914 West Main Street, Leesburg, FL 34748; Phone: 352/787-5511.

A funeral Mass is scheduled for Thursday morning, Sept. 9, in St. Paul Roman Catholic Church. Burial will be in Leesburg.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, Leesburg.