Submitted by: Dan Rich

Wilfred Lavallee

Feb. 3, 1904 - Feb. 21, 2001

South Bend Tribune 2/25/2001

Wilfred "Jack" Lavallee, 97, of Arthur Street, formerly of Jamestown Court, South Bend, Ind., died on Wednesday evening, Feb. 21, in the Regency Place Nursing Home. Jack retired from the Studebaker Corporation in 1963 as a metal finisher for over 20 years, and also assembled the Studebaker truck that is currently being used at the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center Rehabilitation Facility. Jack was born on Feb. 3, 1904, in Braeside, Ontario, Canada, to Francis and Catherine (Lynch) Lavallee, and had lived in South Bend for 75 years.

He was married to Louise Horkey, who died on Nov. 20, 1980. On Feb. 14, 1986, he married Dorothy Leach, who preceded Jack in death in October 1992. Surviving is a daughter, Helen (George) Zagrzejewski of Granger, Ind.; a stepdaughter, Cheryl (Fred) Keip of Walkerton, Ind.; a son, Francis (Maryanne) Lavallee of Spring Valley Lake, Calif.; two stepsons, Richard (Charlotte) Leach of South Bend and Lawrence (Sandy) Leach of Houston, Texas; nine grandchildren, Dr. Michael Lavallee, Lynn Maund, John Lavallee, Tom Lavallee, Kate Uidl, Shari Ransberger, Sandi Kurowski, Shelli Broadbent and Stephani Hedrick; eight step-grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Three brothers, Edward, Art and Leo, and three sisters, May McGonigal, Marguerite and Bernadette Lavallee, preceded Jack in death.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 2, in St. Pius X Catholic Church, Granger, with Rev. William Neidhart, CSC, pastor, officiating. Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 1, in the HICKEY Funeral Home, 3516 E. Jefferson, 219/289-1000, where a Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Jack was a member of St. Pius X and Knights of Columbus Council 553. Memorials may be made to the Chapin Street Health Clinic, c/o Sister M. Brannick - St. Joseph Health Center, 326 S. Chapin Street, South Bend, IN 46601.