JAMES R. KOPCZYNSKI

Mar. 28, 1922 - Dec. 4, 2009
SOUTH BEND - James Richard Kopczynski, 87, of South Bend, Indiana, passed away Friday, December 4, 2009, in his home. James was born on March 28, 1922, in South Bend, Indiana to Henry and Antoinette (Gapinski) Kopczynski.

He was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother, Florence Kopczynski, and a sister, Henrietta Gallagher.

He retired from Inland Distributors and had formerly been employed with the former Studebaker Corporation.

On August 5, 1944, James married Veronica Nowacki who survives. Also surviving with his wife of 65 years are his children, Jeanette (Joseph) McKew of Mishawaka, Indiana, Daniel (Celeste) Kopczynski of South Bend, Richard (Patty) Kopczynski of Three Oaks, Michigan, Debra (Michael) Clymer of South Bend; grandchildren, Daniel Kopczynski, Donald McKew, Nicholas Kopczynski, Taracha Navarro, Brooke Kopczynski; great-grandchildren, Tynder Kopczynski, Evelyna Navarro, Jose Navarro, Micah McKew, Anastasia Kopczynski, Finley McKew; a brother, Henry (Hank) Kopczynski; and a sister, Dorothy Parks.

James was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters # 364, and the American Legion, Post 357. He proudly served his country in WWII with the 663rd. Field Artillery Battalion in the European Theater of operations for 15 months as a member of a Field Artillery Gun Crew. James enjoyed woodworking, gardening and bowling.

He attended South Bend Central High School

Visitation will be held from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m., Sunday, December 6, 2009, at the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, Indiana, where a Parish Rosary will be prayed at 3:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Monday, December 7, 2009, at Holy Family Catholic Church, with burial to follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church, 56405 Mayflower Road, South Bend, Indiana 46619 or the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, Indiana 46637. To send online condolences, please visit Kaniewski.com.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Dec. 5, 2009.

02/05/2023 EJS