Submitted by: Dan Rich
April 18, 1921 - Oct. 1, 2008
South Bend Tribune 10/3/2008
SOUTH BEND - Paul T. Berndt, 87, of South Bend, passed
away on Wednesday October 1, 2008, in Morningside Nursing and
Memory Center, South Bend. He was born on April 18, 1921, in
South Bend, to the late Otto and Julia (Foldenauer) Berndt
and was a lifelong area resident. On January 20, 1945, he married
Lea Kariger, who survives. Along with his loving wife of
63 years, he is survived by six daughters, Carol (Richard) Kruszewski
and Paula (Edwin) Richard, both of Indianapolis, IN, Mary Lovett
and Joanne (Tom) White, both of South Bend, Marian (Trey
Grubbs) Berndt of Tallahassee, FL, Lisa (John Abrahams) Berndt of
Duluth, MN: and two sons, Mark (Mary) Berndt of Warner Robins, GA
and Joseph Berndt of Milan, MI; 14 grandchildren; five
great-grandchildren; three sisters, Jane (Zane) Trinkley,
Joan Berndt and Julianne Berndt, all of South Bend; and two
brothers, Rev. Alan Berndt, O.S.B. of South Dakota and Richard
(Angie) Berndt of South Bend. He was preceded in death by a
daughter, Donna Berndt; two sons, John and Alan Berndt; a sister,
Margaret Couch; and a brother, Wilmer Berndt. He worked in
the trim shop at Studebaker for 23 years and retired as an
inspector at Wheelabrator in 1982.
He was a long-time parishioner of Christ the
King Catholic Church, where he sang in the choir and was a
lector, a World War II Air Corp. veteran, China Burma India
(C.B.I.), a member of the American Legion Post #50, Knights of
Columbus Santa Maria Council #553, the Barbershop
Chorus-Valleyaires, the Forever Learning Institute Chorus and a
UAW retiree. Paul volunteered at Saint Joseph Regional Medical
Center for many years, accumulating more than 3500 hours of
service. He was a member of the Northern Indiana Philatelic
Society as an avid stamp collector. He was an usher at Notre Dame
football, basketball and hockey games as well as a loyal Cubs
fan. He helped many people by donating blood and had given 20
gallons. He was an expert woodworker and could repair or create
anything out of wood.
Visitation will be from to 2 to 6 p.m. on October 5, 2008, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, where a parish Rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday October 6, 2008, in Christ the King Catholic Church, with burial to follow in St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, IN. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ the King Catholic Church, 52473 S R 933, South Bend, IN 46637 or to Blue Cloud Abbey in South Dakota.