Submitted by: Nadine A. Hardin

Name:  Michalski, Chester

Names in Obituary:  Michalski,  Nagy

South Bend Tribune, Obituary; October 3, 2007

SOUTH BEND - Chester Michalski, husband of Catherine and father to Carol, Chris, Carl and Christine, passed on to be with God on Oct. 1, 2007. Drafted into the Army in WWII, he provided care as a medic in the Pacific Theater. Returning home, he worked in the family business, Indiana Dairy, South Bend, IN, delivering dairy products, first by horse-drawn wagon and then by refrigerator truck.

He captured the heart and love of Catherine Nagy and married her on Oct. 30, 1948. They began their life together at 2806 W. Elwood Ave., South Bend, IN, recently moving to Hamilton Communities, New Carlisle, IN. Chester maintained a positive outlook on life. Easygoing and humorous, he brought a sense of calm and easiness to life. He encouraged his children to study and modeled the virtues of hard work and personal responsibility. He was a compassionate man and expressed unconditional love to his family. A man of deep faith and prayer, he believed in the Providence of God and was blessed with many small miracles. He enjoyed fishing and frequented the local lakes, casting for bass and blue gill. He built a basketball court in the backyard for his sons and taught his oldest daughter to drive. He was a lifelong Cubs fan, cheering on his team, win or lose. Blessed with a dry sense of humor, no topic was sacred as one-liners were tossed from behind the newspaper as he relaxed in his green recliner. He worked tirelessly for his family, and throughout the years extended a helping hand to many family members and organizations, receiving, along with his wife, a lifelong volunteer's award for their tireless work and support of Logan Center's Adult Day Care Program in which their youngest daughter, Christine, participated.

Spanning a life of 90 years, Chester experienced the Great Depression, World War II, the births of four children, and later five grandchildren. Quick to share a story or a joke, he shared his joy of life with all those he met. He is survived by Catherine, his wife of 59 years. His legacy is carried on by his children, Carol, Chris and Carl, and by his grandchildren, Adam, Evan, Alex, Paul and Erin Marie. Visitation for Chester will be held Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, Indiana, from 6 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Oct. 5, 2007, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Logan School Adult Day Care Program.