Submitted by: Dan Rich

August James Ditsch Sr.

Sept. 6, 1930 - Dec. 22, 2003

South Bend Tribune 12/24/2003                                       

Mr. August James "Augie" Ditsch Sr., 73, of Cross Creek Drive, South Bend, Ind., died at 5:50 a.m. Monday, Dec. 22, in Saint Joseph Care Center, South Bend, following an extended illness.

He was born on Sept. 26, 1930, in Mishawaka, Ind., to Harold and Marie (Nichols) Ditsch Sr. He was graduated from John Adams High School, South Bend, and had lived much of his life in the River Park neighborhood of South Bend. He recently lived for several years on Bell Road in Niles, Mich.

Mr. Ditsch was employed for many years by the former Redi-Froz of South Bend, retiring in 1983. Just prior to retirement he purchased the River Park Burger Dairy Store which he operated for many years. As a driver for Redi-Froz, he was also a member of the Teamsters Union Local #364. He was a member of First Missionary Church, Niles, and a former member of the Eagles in South Bend. He was a fan of the University of Notre Dame, the Chicago White Sox, and more recently of the Cubs. He will be best remembered for the way in which he cared for his family.

On June 17, 1950, in the River Park Methodist Church, he was married to the former Doretta L. Henry, who survives. Also surviving are their children, August (Brenda Abbett) Ditsch Jr. of South Bend, Terry James (Beverlie) Ditsch of Cassopolis, Mich., Susanna (John) MacDonald of South Bend; 11 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Virginia Myers of Melbourne, Fla., and Hazel Puckett of Davidson, N.C.; and brothers, Hans Ditsch of South Bend, Fritz Ditsch of Romulus, Mich., and Loren Ditsch of West Covina, Calif. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Barbara Jean Hawes, who died on June 24, 2001; a brother, Harold; and by sisters, Mary and Martha.

Funeral services for August J. Ditsch Sr. will be at 11 a.m. today, Dec. 24, in the First Missionary Church, Niles, with the Rev. Daniel D. Miller of the church officiating. The family will receive friends in the church beginning at 10 a.m. today. Contributions in memory of August Ditsch Sr. may be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County. Arrangements were made by the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.