Submitted by: Nadine A. Hardin

Name: Szedenik, Michael

South Bend Tribune; Tuesday, June 02, 1959.

“Car Hits Tree; Driver Killed, Michael Szedenik Dies; Son, 13, Injured.”

Traffic accidents in the South Bend area claimed the second life in 48 hours Monday afternoon when an auto driven by Michael Szedenik, of 58141 Crumstown Rd., slammed into a tree on Peach Rd., killing him almost instantly.

Szedenik, driving south, apparently suffered “some kind of attack” shortly before the crash, Dr. Edward S. Shelly, county coroner said.

But Shelly explained that crushing injuries, which resulted when the car struck the tree, caused the death. Szedenik, who suffered multiple rib fractures and internal injuries when he was thrown against the vehicle’s steering wheel, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Son in Good Condition.

His son, Michael Jr., 13, thrown partially through the windshield of the new car, was reported in good condition in Memorial Hospital with head cuts and bruises.

Sheriff’s deputies have said they have been unable to question the boy about the circumstances leading to the crash.

Witnesses told deputies the car was traveling ’at a normal rate of speed’ when it suddenly veered across the gravel road and slammed into the large tree.

Szedenik, a factory worker, was pinned inside. The crash occurred about 1:30 p.m.

Second Death Since Saturday.

Szedenik’s death was the second death in the South Bend area since Saturday; Robert L. Farnsworth Jr., 26 of 305 E. Dubail Ave., died as a result of injuries suffered in a three-car pileup Saturday night in the 100 block of E. Ewing Ave.

Szedenik was born on Oct. 8, 1897 in Austria. He came to South Bend 31 years ago and married Theresa Wartha on June 26, 1933 in South Bend.

Besides his widow and son, he is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Don Hollinshead of South Bend and Christina Szedenik, at home; three brothers, Nandor, Carl and Victor, all living in Austria, and a sister, Mrs. Emma Leopold, of South Bend.

The body was taken to the Zahoran Funeral Home.

Indiana: South Bend Tribune, Funeral Notes; June 03, 1959.

SZEDENIK - Funeral services for Michael Szedenik, 61, of 58141 Crumstown Rd., will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Our Lady of Hungary Catholic Church. Rev. John J. Margraf, C.S.C., pastor of St. Mary’s parish, will officiate and also will recite the rosary at 7:30 p.m. today in the Zahoran Funeral Home. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Don Hollinshead, Steve Kovacsics, John Horth, Ted A. Zenzenger, Elson Shoemaker and Fred Tomsits. Mr. Szedenik was killed almost instantly when his car slammed into a tree on Peach Rd. Monday afternoon.