Submitted by: Dan Rich
June 14, 1925 - Oct. 9, 1998
South Bend Tribune 10/11/1998
SOUTH BEND - John C. Guisinger, 73,
of South Bend, Ind., died at his home at 9:45 a.m. on Friday,
Oct. 9, after a lengthy illness. He was born on June 14, 1925, in
Plymouth, Ind., to Amos and Dessie (Monesmith) Guisinger,
who preceded him in death. He lived in South Bend most of his
life. John was also preceded in death by five brothers and two
sisters.
He married Jean Batchelor on Aug. 8,
1945, who survives. Also survivng are six daughters, Bonnie
(Larry) Swiatkowski of South Bend, Vickie McCarty
of Haskell, Texas, Kathy Jones of West Linn, Ore., Julie
(Michael) Unger of Osceola, Ind., Connie (Patrick) Stauffer
and Shari Guisinger, all of Mishawaka, Ind. John is also survived
by 13 grandchildren, Diane (Bruce) Wilson of Edwardsburg,
Mich., Danny, Eric and Shaun Swiatkowski of South Bend, Beth Ann Hoggard
of Washington, Keli and Tara McCarty of Haskell, Jason
(Wynell) Jones of Cape Coral, Fla., Jaime Jones of Flagstaff,
Ariz., Cassie and Anthony Unger of Osceola, Clint Stauffer and
Brandon Brunner of Mishawaka. He is also survived by four
great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and by a
sister-in-law, Joyce Overmyer of South Bend.
After graduation from Riley High School in
January 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a medic
during World War II, participating in the invasion of Iwo Jima on
the USS Hinsdale APA 120.
He then returned to South Bend, was married,
and graduated from the Indiana College of Mortuary Science in
1948, and worked at several funeral homes in the area. In 1963 he
became associated with Colonial Chapel Funeral Home which became
the Guisinger Colonial Chapel Funeral Home and Ambulance Service.
He was a member of the Crest Manor Church of
the Brethren, Orak Shrine, Avalon Grotto, Indiana Funeral
Director's Association, National Funeral Director's Association,
VFW Post 1167, life member of Mishawaka VFW Post 360, Bendix
Aviation Post 284 of the American Legion, life member of DAV
Chapter 6, Council Oak Lodge 745 F&AM, Ancient Accepted
Scottish Rite, Valley of South Bend, South Bend Consistory 32nd
degree, Grand Lodge of F&AM of Indiana, and was a member of
the Riley High School Over-The Hill-Gang.
Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. on Monday,
Oct. 12, at the Guisinger Colonial Chapel Funeral Home, 3718 S.
Michigan Street. A Masonic service will be held at 7:30 p.m. on
Monday, Oct. 12.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Oct. 13
at the funeral home, with Pastor Larry Fourman and Rev. Kenneth
Mendenhall officiating. Burial will be immediately following at
St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Ind. Military graveside
services will be provided by Mishawaka VFW Post 360.
Memorial contributions may be made to
Hospice of St. Joseph County, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend,
IN 46637.
South Bend Tribune 10/11/1998
Ex-funeral home owner Guisinger dies
SOUTH BEND--Longtime area funeral director
John C. Guisinger, 73, of Saturn Circle in South Bend, died
Friday in his home after a lengthy illness. A funeral service
will be held Tuesday in Guisinger Colonial Chapel Funeral Home
for the former owner of the mortuary.
A 1948 graduate of the Indiana College of
Mortuary Science, he served in the 1950s as assistant director of
the Orvis Funeral Home and several others. In 1963 he became part
owner of Colonial Chapel Funeral Home. It later was renamed when
he became its sole owner. Mr. Guisinger owned and operated the
funeral home for nearly 35 years before selling it to Keystone
Group Holdings of Tampa, Fla., last year. A native of Plymouth,
Mr. Guisinger graduated from Riley High School in South Bend in
1944. He then enlisted in the Navy, serving as a medic, and took
part in the invasion of Iwo Jima in the Pacific.
He was a member of numerous organizations,
including the Crest Manor Church of the Brethren, Orak Shrine,
Avalon Grotto, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1167, Mishawaka
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 360, Bendix Aviation Post 284 of
the American Legion and Chapter 6 of the Disabled American
Veterans. Also, Council Oak Lodge 745 of the Free & Accepted
Masons, the Ancient Accepted Scottish Right, the Indiana Free
& Accepted Masons Grand Lodge, and the Riley Over-The-Hill
Gang.
He lived in South Bend most of his life and
was married here to the former Jean Batchelor, who survives.
Survivors include six daughters, Bonnie Swiatkowski of South
Bend; Vickie McCarty of Haskell, Texas; Kathy Jones of West Linn,
Ore.; Julie Unger of Osceola; and Connie Stauffer and Shari
Guisinger, both of Mishawaka; 14 grandchildren; and four
great-grandchildren.
Tuesday's 11 a.m. funeral will be followed
by burial in St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, where VFW
Post 360 will provide military graveside services. Contributions
may be made to the Hospice of St. Joseph County, 111 Sunnybrook
Court, South Bend, 46637.