Submitted By: Dan Rich

George Joseph Kurapka

July 12, 1914 - June 25, 1995

South Bend Tribune 6/29/1995

SOUTH BEND - George Joseph Kurapka, 80, of St. Paul's Retirement Center, died at 5:13 a.m. Sunday in Memorial Hospital after an illness. Mr. Kurapka retired as boilermaker/pipefitter for Babcock & Wilcox Construction Co. He was born July 12, 1914, in Swoyersville, Pa., and lived in South Bend since 1992.

On Aug. 13, 1932, in Buffalo, N.Y., he married Irene Borkowski. She died in November 1991. Surviving are three granddaughters, Karen Lawson of Valparaiso, Linda Mochel of South Bend and Janet Marie Kurapka of Kettering, Ohio; a grandson, James G. Kurapka of South Bend; nine great-grandchildren; and two nephews, P. James Kurapka of Catonsville, Md., and David Kurapka of Washington, D.C. A son, James G. Sr., died Dec. 18, 1994.

He was a World War II veteran and served in the Navy, Army, Merchant Marines and Coast Guard. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Council 4483, Joliet, and Councils 553 and 5521, South Bend, Merchant Marine Veteran Association, and volunteered at Leighton Center for Senior Health and at St. Paul's.

Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in St. Paul's Retirement Center. Burial will be in St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger. Memorial contributions may be made to American Lung Association.