John SWITALSKI

23 NOV 1949 - 27 JUL 2015

• BIRTH: 23 NOV 1949, South Bend, IN
• DEATH: 27 JUL 2015, Elkhart General Hospital, Elkhart IN

• MARRIAGE: 19 SEP 1975, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA

INDEX

[N1438] John R. Switalski
Nov. 23, 1949 - July 27, 2015
WHITE PIGEON, Mich. - John R. Switalski, 65, of White Pigeon, passed away Monday, July 27, at Elkhart (Ind.) General Hospital after a long battle with cancer.
He was born Nov. 23, 1949, in South Bend, Ind., to Robert Switalski and Irene (Trzybinski) Ison. On Sept. 19, 1975, in Kalamazoo, he married Cathy Brainerd.
She survives along with a daughter, April (David) Drudge of Elkhart; son Jason (Darla Matthews) Switalski of White Pigeon; grandchildren Bryce and Brayden Drudge; brother Mike Switalski of South Bend; sisters Gina Tinsley of Tennesee and Cheryl (Paul) Bittle of South Bend; mother Irene Ison of Tennesee; brother-in-law Cole Brainerd; sister-in-law Diane Brainerd; nephews Josh Brainerd and Casey Brainerd; and many extended family members. He was preceded in death by his father and a brother, Steve Ison. John graduated from South Bend Central High School and worked as a carpet installer for over 40 years, starting his own business and contracting with Tri-States Inc. for many years. He lived on Long Lake in White Pigeon for 20 years and enjoyed fishing and teaching everyone how to truly enjoy fishing. He was an avid NASCAR fan and supported local drivers David Stremme and Ryan Newman. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home in Elkhart. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, at St. Mary’s of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Bristol, Ind., with Father Bob VanKempen officiating. There will be an hour of visitation before Mass on Tuesday. He will be buried in Adamsville Cemetery at a later date.Memorials may be made to Center for Hospice Care or St. Mary’s Church. Online condolences may be made at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com.