John Joseph Rucano

SOUTH BEND - Mr. John Joseph Rucano, 87, of South Bend, passed away Sunday morning at Cardinal Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center from complications after a two and a half year battle with Leukemia. Mr. Rucano was born in South Bend on June 24, 1924, to the late Pasquale and Angelina (Nesci) Rucano.

On September 28, 1946, John married the former Louise F. Steenbeke in Sacred Heart Belgian Catholic Church on Thomas Street in South Bend. He graduated from South Bend Central High School and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WW II, where he was a Navigator/Bombardier. He retired in 1987 after 30 years with the Bendix Corporation where he worked as an Aerospace Experimental Technician. He had previously worked at Studebaker's. John was a faithful member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church; he was a founding member and Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus John Carroll Council #5570; he was a prior member and Financial Secretary of the Notre Dame Council #1477, a Sir Knight of Fourth Degree Fr. J.A. Neuwland Assembly #242, and Past President of Corvilla, which means "House with a Heart", a name he created.

A very intelligent, humble, modest, and deeply religious man, he touched many lives with his warmth, wisdom and advice. Among other things, John was widely known for his famous spaghetti sauce that he would make for almost any school or Catholic fundraiser. He was a great vegetable gardener and an inspiration to all who knew him. John knew about Saturday's Notre Dame football victory and was very happy. He loved all ND sports but especially football and basketball. In 1972, John was named "Outstanding Catholic Layman" by the K of C.

John is survived by his wife, Louise F. Rucano of South Bend; and three children, John J. Jr. (the late Cheryl) Rucano of South Bend, Eileen A. Rucano of Dayton and Rozanne M. Rucano of South Bend; a sister, Rose Van de Walle of South Bend; a brother, Richard (Rita) Rucano of Granger, IN; five grandchildren, Keith R. Boroczk, of Dayton, OH, Lisa M. (Andrew) Brown of Anchorage, AK, Andrea (Tim) Whittaker of Indianapolis, IN, Gina (Eric) Nichols of South Bend and John J. Rucano III of South Bend; four great-grandchildren, Haley & Tyler Nichols of South Bend and Alyssa & Kaitlyn Brown of Anchorage; and mother-in-law, Marie Steenbeke.

05/02/2022  EJS