Submitted by: Dan Rich

Steve Joseph Nemeth

Dec. 10, 1922 - March 27, 1998

South Bend Tribune 3/29/1998

SOUTH BEND - After suffering through several years of a progressive illness, Steve Joseph Nemeth, 75, passed on to the spiritual life at 3 a.m. on Friday, March 27, 1998. He was born on Dec. 10, 1922, in South Bend, Ind., to the late Joseph and Magdalena Nemeth. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Andrew. On June 8, 1946, he married Betty Marie Evans. He is survived by his loving wife Betty; a daughter, Christina Townsend of Eustace, Texas, and her three children, Melanie, James and Margaret; his son, Steve, Jr., and wife Paula of Holland, Mich., and their three children, Joshua, Stephanie and Jenny; his daughter, Michelle Beplay, and husband Jason of Granger, Ind., and their two children, Ryan and Sarah; and by two great-grandchildren, Tristin Thorton and Morgan Nemeth. The years of growing up in South Bend contributed to his great storytelling as did the numerous sporting activities. After graduating from Riley High School in 1942 as an All State, All Conference football player, he went on to Notre Dame where he played on the 1943 National Championship Football Team. Moving from the collegiate ranks to the NFL, he played for the 1945 Cleveland Rams who won the World Championship that year. Other teams included the Chicago Rockets, Baltimore Colts and Montreal Alouettes. He was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame on August 15, 1987, and also participated in the local NFL Alumni Club. Leaving professional sports due to an injury, he started working for his brother at Central Design Service as a tool designer, which continued for 18 years. He retired from AM General in 1989 after 12 years as a quality inspector.

Services will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31, in Christ the King Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday in the Zahoran Funeral Home, 1826 S. Kemble Avenue, where a Rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County; or to the Indiana Football Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 1035, Richmond, IN 47375.