Joan J. Golubski
Jul. 07, 1929 - May. 14, 2021

MISHAWAKA - Joan Golubski was born to Joseph and Josephine Trzcina on July 7th 1929, in South Bend, Indiana. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Joseph Jr., and her beloved husband Ralph, who passed away in 2002. Joan spent her childhood attending Saint Adalbert's Catholic School, Benjamin Harrison, Central High School and the Michiana College of Commerce, where she earned a secretarial degree.

Joan was the only daughter of Joseph and Josephine Trzcina, who left Poland and came to America in 1915, leaving all of their family behind. Her parents met in South Bend, were married in 1928, and welcomed Joan into the world in 1929. Joan spent her early years as an only child. She met her one and only love Ralph Golubski and after a four-year courtship, they were married at the age of 21. Joan and Ralph were blessed with three wonderful children and lived a rich happy life in South Bend, Indiana until the time of her death.

Joan loved her years at Central High School, from which she graduated in 1947. She was a vocal soloist in the Glee Club, had several lead role in plays as a member of the Barnstormers and was a member of the Amigo Club. She graduated 6th in her class of 327 students.

Joan retired from the U.S. Government Department of Defense Civil Service as a military personnel clerk with the Notre Dame Army ROTC program in 1999 after 25 years of service. She continued working part time at Notre Dame in the Army ROTC office for another 15 years. She also worked at Studebakers's for seven years, at Bendix for three and two years at Hickey Construction Company as a secretary. In addition, she was also the neighborhood Fuller Brush lady for several years.

In 1962, on a family camping trip, Joan and Ralph discovered their home away from home on North Scott Lake, in Bangor Michigan. It was there that they found their love of camping and eventually bought some lake-front property there. Almost every weekend in the summertime was spent fishing, swimming and boating at the lake with her family.

Unfortunately, Ralph developed an auto-immune disease that resulted in renal failure and on-going need for kidney dialysis that continued until his death in August of 2002. Ralph's illness wasn't able to stop them from continuing to live their life of adventure. In 1986, after years of watching “The Love Boat”, they took a Caribbean cruise, beginning a love of sea travel that took them from Hawaii to the Panama Canal on over 15 cruises. Ralph and Joan spent 52 wonderful years together. Ralph was Joan's only love.

After her husband's death in 2002, Joan took up oil painting under the tutelage of famous local artist, David Allen. She was a master Euchre player and continued to work one day a week at Notre Dame with her friend Connie. She loved shopping with her daughters and was a die-hard fan of the Chicago Cubs,

living to see them win the world series in 2016. She was also an active member of the Ladies of the Knights of Columbus John Carroll Council 5570 for almost 50 years.

Joan was a happy healthy person who loved life, her wonderful children and her beautiful grandchildren and great grandchildren with a passion. She is survived by her three children, Karen (Chuck) Kovach, Michael (Rhonda) Golubski and Kathleen (Greg) Helmen, grandchildren Nick (Kathleen) and Eric (Jessica) Kovach, Alison (Alex) Golubski, Alex Golubski and Alana (Brian) Fredenburg and great-grandchildren Logan, Averie, Milo, Monty and Griffin Kovach, Mairin and Grace Rumely, and Lawson and Sutton Fredenburg. A service will be held at the St. Joseph Cemetery Mausoleum at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday May 18, 2021. To send online condolences, please visit www.kaniewski.com.
 

05/18/2021 JFC