Submitted by: Dan Rich

Paul F. Tamke

Jan. 18, 1917 - March 91, 2003

South Bend Tribune 3/23/2003

Paul F. Tamke, 86, of South Bend, Ind., died following an illness at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, in Memorial Hospital, South Bend. He was born Jan. 18, 1917, in Neudorf-Platendorf, Germany, to the late Gottfried and Alma (Grunwald) Tamke, and came to the United States from Miesterhorst, Germany, with his parents and sister Emma on Nov. 11, 1924, when he was seven years old.

Paul was married to the former Evelyn Shupert in St. Paul's Lutheran Church on Nov. 6, 1948. She survives along with three sons, Brian, Frederick and James Tamke, all of South Bend. He is also survived by his sister, Hildegarde Nikoley and her husband, Harold of Melbourne, Fla.; his sister-in-law, Winifred Cramer of Phoenix, Ariz.; and eight nieces and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Emma Braun; and his dear son, Carl, who died in a drowning accident on Aug. 4, 1963, at the age of seven.

Mr. Tamke was a graduate of the former Central High School and the South Bend College of Commerce. He proudly served in the United States Army during World War II, during which time he traveled to such places as India and China. While serving in China, the former Chinese leader Chiang Kai-Shek (later president of Formosa) would come into Paul's office. He loved the military and told many interesting stories. His professional career included many years at the Studebaker Corporation, starting in the factory and progressing to the administration building. After the Studebaker closing he worked for many years as an industrial specialist with the United States Defense Department, retiring in 1982. Paul was a very devoted and loving husband and father. He was also a longtime member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, in the Welsheimer Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, with Rev. Gregory Fiechtner of St. Paul's Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, in the funeral home.