Submitted by: Dan Rich

Walter A. Sweitzer

June 5, 1918 - July 10, 2003

South Bend Tribune 7/12/2003

Walter A. Sweitzer, 85, residing at Miller's Merry Manor, New Carlisle, Ind., and formerly of Mishawaka, Ind., and South Bend, Ind., passed away Thursday following a long illness.

He was born in Chicago, Ill., a son of Walter A. and Elizabeth (McIntee) Sweitzer.

Walter grew up in South Bend, where he graduated from Riley High School in 1936 and Notre Dame in 1940. He began working for WSBT but soon left because of World War II. He served in the European Theatre with the Army Corps from 1941 to 1945 and attained the rank of Major. Walter then returned to WSBT where he worked a total of 42 years and, at the time of his retirement, was the business manager.

His civic activities included board member and past president of Michiana Council of Campfire, member and past president of South Bend Press Club, member of South Bend Elks, past president of Council of Crippled Children and Adults, and served on the board of American Red Cross.

Walter was an avid fan of Notre Dame Football and Chicago Cubs Baseball. He enjoyed collecting miniature model cars, gardening and bird watching.

Walter's family includes his five daughters, Linda (Dennis) Hockney of Antioch, Ill., Susan (Bill) Hajec of Fenton, Mich., Kathie (Tom) Lindenman, Connie (Steve) Clauson, and Mary (Mike) Huszar, all of South Bend; a brother, Robert (Karol) Sweitzer of Ohio; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wives, Kathleen Sweitzer and Jeanne Sweitzer; and by a brother, James Sweitzer.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon today, July 12, in Thallemer-Goethals Funeral Home, 503 West Third St., Mishawaka. Services will begin at noon in the funeral home with burial following at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola, Ind.

Memorials may be made to Harbor Lights Hospice or Parkinson's Foundation.