Submitted by: Nadine Hardin

Name:  Goepfrich, Joseph Francis

Names in Obituary:  Goepfrich, Steenbergen, Schneider, Strantz

South Bend Tribune, Obituary; November 7, 1978

GOEPFRICH DIES AT 47 - Fireman Suffers Heart Attack In Car -

Joseph Francis Goepfrich, 47, a city fireman, of 1872 N. Johnson St., was dead on arrival at St. Joseph's Hospital in Mishawaka at 4:07 p.m. Thursday. He had suffered a heart attack and collapsed in his car in the 200 block of N. Mill St., Mishawaka, while on a shopping trip with his son, James, and daughter, Catherine. They were on their way to buy tennis shoes at the Ball Band company store.

As Goepfrich had been ill with a heart condition since February, his daughter was driving the car. A Mishawaka police ambulance was called to the scene and took him to the hospital.

Joins Department in 1949 -

Goepfrich joined the South Bend Fire Department in Oct. 1949, and had served at Station 13, at 1616 Portage Ave., for the past six years. He was a private. He was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, St. Stephen's Society, The German Club, and the International Assn. of Firefighters Local 362. An Army veteran of World War II, he was a member of Chapter 6, Disabled American Veterans.

Born Dec. 7, 1922, In South Bend, he had lived here all his life. On May 30, 1949, he married Marjorie A. Steenbergen, who survives. Other survivors include three sons, Thomas H., James A., and Joseph K., and two daughters, Mary Ann and Catherine S., all at home; two sisters, Mrs. Rose Schneider of Elkhart, and Mrs. Marie Strantz, a brother, Alber[t]; and a step-mother, Mrs. Rose Goepfrich, all of South Bend.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday in the Welsheimer Funeral Home, where the rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Holy Cross Catholic Church by Rev. Joseph Murphy, C.S.C., associate pastor. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery.