Submitted by: Dan Rich

Joann Hays Rockne

Jan. 5, 1928 - Feb. 26, 2005

South Bend Tribune 3/13/2005

Joann Hays Rockne died of natural causes February 26, 2005, at the age of 77 in Healthwin Specialized Care. Joann was born January 5, 1928, to Paul S. and Josephine (Yetter) Hays in New Carlisle, IN.

Joann graduated from Riley High School, South Bend, and attended St. Mary's College before marrying John Vincent Rockne on March 19, 1949, in South Bend, IN.

Sister, Carolyn Hays Hippensteel of Columbus, Ohio, and brother, Joseph Andrew Hay of Chicago, Ill., survive Joann. Also surviving are only daughter, Jeanne Anne of Granger, IN; sons, Knute Kenneth of Salt Lake City, UT, Niles Lars of Dallas, Texas, and Erik Joseph of South Bend; 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Four sons and a twin sister preceded her in death, John Olaf, Paul Michael, William Vincent and Timothy Sven, and Jeanne Hays Ringgenberg. Also preceding Joann in death were her parents, Paul and Josephine Hays, and her in-laws, Knute and Bonnie Rockne.

William Vincent Rockne Sr. of Odessa, Texas, died December 20, 2004, at the Veterans Hospital in Big Springs, Texas, after a long illness. William was born August 8, 1956, to John V. and Joann Hays Rockne of South Bend.

Surviving are his son, William Jr. of Toledo, Ohio; William Jr.'s mother, Rhonda Kramer of Granger, IN; and a daughter, Kalecia; granddaughter, Enola; and Kalecia's mother, Charlotte Daly of Odessa, Texas.

Also surviving are a sister and three brothers, Jeanne Anne of Granger, IN, Erik Joseph of South Bend, Knute Kenneth of Salt Lake City, UT, and Niles Lars of Dallas, Texas.

Brothers, John Olaf, Paul Michael and Timothy Sven, paternal grandparents, Knute and Bonnie Rockne, and maternal grandparents, Paul and Josephine Hays, preceded him in death.

William was a graduate of Riley High School, South Bend, and was an honorably discharged Army veteran.

A joint memorial Mass for Joann and her son, William Vincent, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 18, in St. Pius X Catholic Church, Granger, IN.

Memorial contributions for Joann may be made to the Center for the Homeless, c/o Tammy Oehm, 813 S. Michigan St., South Bend, IN 46601; or to Pet Refuge, 2300 W. 6th Street, Mishawaka, IN 46601.

Memorial contributions for William may be made to the Rockne Heritage Fund, c/o M. McNamara, C101 Joyce Center, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556. The Hickey Funeral Homes, 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend, 574-289-1000, is in charge of arrangements.