July
11, 1919 - Feb. 9, 2009SOUTH BEND - Joseph Wilk Sr., 89, passed away early Monday morning, February 9, 2009, in Regency Place of South Bend. He was born July 11, 1919, in South Bend, to Frank and Sophia (Cohan) Wilk. Joseph is survived by his wife, Jean (Snyder) Wilk; children, Joseph Jr., Robert (Maria), Eric (Tina), Bruce (Mindy) and David; a sister, Virgina Mouros; and two brothers, Thaddeus "Ted" and Casimir "Chick," all of South Bend; 10 grandchildren, Shauna, Sharon, Eric, Genaveve, Stephanie, Jacqueline, Jessica, Addison, Sophia and Nathaniel; and seven great-grandchildren, Jaecy, Daniel, Dominick, Jalyn, Clifford, Isaiah and Tristan. Joseph was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Florian "Floyd," Stanley, Frank, Henry, Bruno "Benny," Julius "Jutz"; and sisters, Cecelia and Bertha "Bea." Joseph graduated from Riley High School in 1938 and attended Indiana University for two years. He began work at Studebaker's before enlisting in the U.S. Army, where he was honorably discharged after one year of service. He then returned to Studebaker where he worked alongside seven of his brothers until Studebaker closed in 1963. He finished his working career as a union painter before retiring in 1983. Joseph's love for music began at the age of 12 when he learned to play the guitar. Along with his brother "Chick," they began a duet called "Wilky Ways." They played together all their lives. Their latest band, "The Whiz Bangs," included Joseph, Chick and Benny Wilk, Andy Zeberl and Dominick Perry. They played for 10 years in all the local nursing homes. Viewing times are from 5 to 8 p.m. today, Feb. 12, and from 2 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13th, in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 N. William St. The final farewell will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13th. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at welshfh@yahoo.com.