Submitted by: Dan Rich
June 30, 1911 - Jan. 19, 2003
South Bend Tribune 1/22/2003
South Bend, IN — Charles Frederick
Christman, 91, of East Madison Street, passed away following
a brief illness at 9:25 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, in Holy Cross
Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. He was born in South Bend,
Ind., on June 30, 1911, to the late Julius B. and Emma (Beck)
Christman. He was a lifelong area resident.
On Oct. 30, 1936, in South Bend, he married
Cecilia Marie (Turnock) Christman, who survives of South Bend.
Charlie graduated from Purdue University with a BS degree in
horticulture in 1934. His professional career was spent as a
florist and he owned the former South Bend Floral Company from
1950 until his retirement in 1976 when he sold his company. After
his retirement he worked for many years at the Leeper Park Tennis
Courts and at the Eck Tennis Center at the University of Notre
Dame. Along with his wife, Mr. Christman is survived by three
sons, Charles F. (Sharon) Christman Jr. of Cary, N.C., David E.
(Helen) Christman of Somers, Conn., and Thomas J. (Sandra)
Christman of Freeland, Mich. There are four grandchildren, seven
step-grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and a brother,
William (Betty) Christman of Niles, Mich., who also survive.
The Rite of Christian Burial Mass will be
celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hill St. at LaSalle
Ave., on Thursday at 10 a.m., with Rev. William Neidhart, CSC,
associate pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph
Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Ind. Friends may call today in the
McGann Funeral Home, University Area Chapel, Edison Road at
Ironwood Drive, from 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m., where the parish
will pray the Rosary at 3:30 p.m. Charles was a member of St.
Joseph's Parish, the Downtown South Bend Kiwanis Club where he
had over 37 years of perfect attendance, the Scottish Rite
Masons, American Turners, and was a charter member of "THE
WORLD FIXER'S TENNIS CLUB." Memorial donations may be
made in Charlie's name to the American Cancer Society, 535 W.
Edison Road, Unit #6, Mishawaka, IN 46545.