Aug. 17, 1922 - Mar. 11, 2010SOUTH BEND - Stephen Z. Krzyzaniak, an automobile manufacturer and lifelong resident of South Bend, died March 11 in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, from congestive heart failure. The World War II veteran was 87. Mr. Krzyzaniak was born on Aug. 17, 1922, to John and Mary Ann (Sobkowski) Krzyzaniak. At age 13, he met his future wife, 11-year-old Dolores, when she moved to South Bend from Chicago. They became friends, classmates, sweethearts and finally husband and wife in a ceremony on Aug. 31, 1943, in St. Adalbert's Catholic Church. They would go on to have a wonderful marriage of 64 years until her death in 2007. "As their grandchildren, we will count ourselves blessed if we are fortunate to have as loving a relationship as Gramie and Grampie shared for 70-plus years," said Dr. Brandon Z. von Tobel, one of his grandchildren. "They truly lived a fairy tale love affair." Mr. Krzyzaniak enlisted in the Army during World War II and was a member of the 84th Infantry Division for three years, of which 18 months were spent in Europe. He quickly earned the rank of staff sergeant and led a 72-man mortar platoon. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, Rhineland and Central Europe. In one engagement, he directed fire at a German convoy, which was destroyed. As a result, he was awarded the Bronze Star. He also earned a Purple Heart and the Belgian Fourraguere. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 28, 1945. He began his career as a welder with Studebaker in 1942. He returned to the company after the war, serving in various capacities including the purchasing department until 1963. He worked for A.M. General until his retirement in 1974. During his retirement years, Mr. Krzyzaniak enjoyed refinishing furniture, painting in oils and water colors and making many beautiful things for his family out of stained glass. In addition to his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Elizabeth Slesinski and Helen and Bernadine Krzyzaniak, and by his brothers, Peter and John Krzyzaniak. He is survived by his daughters, Cheryl (John) Gardner of Denville, NJ, and Darlene von Tobel (Timothy F. Kriehn) of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; his sister, Mary Ann (Kenneth) Butterbaugh of Granger, IN; his brother, Edmund (Margaret) Krzyzaniak of Granger; four grandchildren, John D. Gardner, III, Dr. Travis R. von Tobel, Dr. Brandon Z. von Tobel and Alexa L. von Tobel, all of New York City, NY; and several nieces and nephews. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 1, at 10 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church in South Bend with the Rev. Michael Matthews presiding. There will be no visitation. Cremains will be buried in St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Cross Catholic Church. Kaniewski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.