Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 8/3/1997

James E. Dewald, Sr.

March 29, 1932 - Aug. 2, 1997

MISHAWAKA - James E. Dewald, Sr., 65, president and founder of this area's only locally owned pneumatic and hydraulic components distributor or-ganization for automatic industrial ma-chinery, passed away suddenly at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, in his residence.

Dewald Fluid Power employs 23 people. His firm has won national awards on their own pneumatic imprinted hardboard sales catalog.

Mr. Dewald was a member of the South Bend Country Club, the Summitt Club, and was a consistent contributor to the Special Olympics. Mr. Dewald was also the owner and originator of the Golf Instructor Booklet that won honors in 1983 by the Golf Digest magazine for creative new products.

Mr. Dewald was born on March 29, 1932, in Mishawaka, Ind., to George and Bernice (Eberhart) Dewald.

In September 1953 he married Mary Ann Moraschi. Jim is survived by his children, James E. (Della) Dewald, Jr., of Mishawaka and Debra (Farrell) Holland, Jr., of Mishawaka, Sandra (Nick) DeCicco of Mishawaka, Linda (Dennis) O'Donnell of Osceola, Ind., and George V. Dewald (Linda Buchtel) of Mishawaka; his father, George and his wife, Gladys Dewald of Mishawaka; 12 grandchildren, Jimmy Dewald, Gina Dewald, Vince Dewald, Augusta Holland, Aubrey Holland, Austynne Holland, Micki DeCicco, Rocco DeCicco, Nicola DeCicco, Dennis O'Donnell, Shannon O'Donnell and Knute O'Donnell.

His siblings, Chuck Dewald of Mishawaka, Tom Dewald of Sarasota, Fla., Chris Erickson of Bremen, Ind., Becky Balog of Colorado and Ron Finch of Mishawaka.

Mr. Dewald was preceded in death by his mother, Bernice; a sister, Ruthmary Hammond; and by two grandsons, Michael James Wood and Ethan Blaine Holland.

Mr. Dewald was a U.S. Navy veteran, and played minor league baseball for the Atlanta Braves organization.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday in St. Monica's Catholic Church, Mishawaka, with Rev. William Sullivan officiating.

Friends may call from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday at the Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th Street, Mishawaka, and one hour prior to services at St. Monica's Church. Wake prayers will be at 3:45 p.m. on Monday in the funeral home.

The family wishes for memorial contributions to be made to either St. Joseph County Hospice or to the National Diabetes Association.