Donald A LASKOWSKI

29 NOV 1932 - 27 OCT 2021

• BIRTH: 29 NOV 1932, South Bend, St Joseph, IN
• DEATH: 27 OCT 2021, South Bend, St Joseph, IN

• MARRIAGE: 14 SEP 1957, St Joseph County, IN

1.  Mark A LASKOWSKI
2. +Ellen Louise LASKOWSKI
3.  Judith K LASKOWSKI
4. +Lawrence R LASKOWSKI
5.  Kathryn Jean LASKOWSKI

INDEX

[N30059] Donald A. Laskowski
Nov. 29, 1932 - Oct. 27, 2021

South Bend - Donald A. Laskowski, 88, loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother, left this world on Wednesday Oct. 27. Don was born on Nov. 29, 1932, to the late Francis and Marie Laskowski, in South Bend, where he lived most of his life. He graduated from South Bend Catholic High School, and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, based in Fort Sill, Okla. On Sept. 14, 1957, he married Patricia Ann Steiner. Don worked for a variety of companies, but he was most proud of his 13 years at Studebaker. After the automobile manufacturer closed the South Bend factory in 1963, Don worked out of Detroit for a short time before finding positions at several truck lines in South Bend. He retired in 1998 but found a part-time job with Republic Parking at South Bend International Airport. He gave up that job in 2018 when he became a full-time companion to and caregiver for his wife Pat. Don is known as "the nicest man in the world." He was full of puns and corny humor, but that was part of his charm. Ask him anything about South Bend and fascinating stories pour out. Walking with his father and brother from their Chapin Street home to see the dedication of the new airport. Then, 60 years later, Don (a huge Notre Dame fan) took change from the many local celebrities (like Brady Quinn) passing through the toll booth he staffed at that airport. Watching the Graf Zeppelin fly over the city. Setting pins (with his brother) by hand for a nickel a frame at the two-story bowling alley downtown. (Until he was fired for being an underage worker; even at 12 years old he passed for 15 because he was so tall and lanky.) Walking with schoolmates to a railroad bridge on Main Street in South Bend for a speech delivered from a train car by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The downtown building where bicyclists and acrobats rode on the sky-high parapet. His years attending St. Hedwig Catholic Church, where he served in many capacities from altar boy to lector to choir member. When he and Pat married, the St. Hedwig choir members tossing sheet music over the newlyweds from the choir loft instead of rice. Sitting with Pat on the front porch of their first home, on Lincolnway West, as President Eisenhower drove from the airport into the city. Don grew up through the World War II years, and spoke without regret of all the hard work of daily life. Walking with his father to the South Bend Toy Factory on Sample Street to get waste scraps of wood for the stove to heat their home. The ice card that was placed in the window in a specific position to indicate how many pounds to deliver, and the ice man knowing how to chisel the block to get just the right amount. Walking to the bread store at the corner of Fellows and Sample with his brother, carrying a quarter for two loaves of bread, but leaving the nickel change behind on the counter and being told to walk back from Chapin Street to get it. He and his brother playing pranks on his older sisters. Get Don talking about Studebaker; he was full of stories about the plant. On a recent visit to the Studebaker National Museum, he encountered a young man who had parked his grandfathers' convertible out front. Don walked up and said "I probably helped make that car," and the conversation went on and on - suddenly Don became one of the main attractions of that day's Studebaker Drivers Club meeting. He was a huge fan of Notre Dame football and Chicago Cubs baseball. When the Cubs finally surprised everybody by winning the 2016 World Series, Don took a bottle of beer and a W flag to his father's grave; his father had witnessed the team's last World Series victory in 1908. Don didn't limit his story-telling to South Bend history. He loved to travel, starting right after his high school graduation. He and his buddy Gene driving to the East Coast, heading south to Key West, and boarding a boat to Cuba. Staying with his sister in California, and standing with his young niece on a sofa to peer out a window at the screen of a nearby drive-in theater to watch the stampede scene from "King Solomon's Mines" every night. New York City (and Broadway shows) with his Army buddy. His honeymoon trip to Miami Beach. Visits to the various far-flung spots where his children chose to live, just so he could see his many grandkids. Above all, he was a family man, so proud of all his children and grandchildren, and most of all loving his wife of 64 years, Pat.Don is survived by his wife, Patricia; his children Lawrence (Celeste) Laskowski, Kathryn Laskowski (David Hogerty), Judith (Doug) Brown, Mark (Jennifer) Laskowski, and Ellen (Carl) Jungck; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and his sister Rose Mary Carroll. Visitation will be 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm Sunday, October 31, 2021 in St. Joseph Funeral Home with a Rosary to be prayed 5:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 pm Monday, November 1, 2021 in St. Hedwig Catholic Church. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. Posted online on October 29, 2021