Hildegard L. "Hilda" (Koch) Passwater

Hildegard L. “Hilda” Passwater, 87, of South Bend, IN, passed away at 10:01 a.m. Friday, September 22, 2017 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, IN.

She was born on September 28, 1929 to the late Henry E. and Lena (Bastian) Koch in Fort Wayne, IN, and has lived in South Bend for 60 years, coming from Fairmont, IN.  Along with her parents; she was also preceded in death by a son, William H. Passwater, Sr.; a grandson, William H.G. Passwater, Jr.; a great-grandson, Daniel Passwater; a sister, Hedwig Munsell; and a daughter-in-law, Deborah Passwater.   

Hildegard worked as a Sporting Goods Clerk at the former Tepe’s Department Store in South Bend, IN, for six years.   For most of her life she was primarily a Homemaker.    

On December 27, 1947, as Hildegard L. Koch, she married William F. Passwater in Fort Wayne, IN.  He passed away on April 23, 2002.

Hildegard is survived by two daughters, Vickie S. Perkins and Christine M. Passwater, both of South Bend, IN; three sons, Stephan W. (Kathleen) Passwater of Rolling Prairie, IN; Michael F. Passwater of South Bend, IN; Randall D. (Leslie) Passwater of New Paris, IN; seven grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one sister, Joan M. (Basil) Johnson of Sarasota, FL; and a daughter-in-law, Linda Passwater of South Bend, IN.

Hildegard was a member of Epworth Memorial United Methodist Church in South Bend, IN, where she was a member of the Lady’s Society.  She was an avid reader; loved her roses; and enjoyed having lunch with the ladies from Tepe’s.

Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, IN.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 28, 2017 at Kaniewski Funeral Home, South Bend, IN.  Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Beagle Freedom Project, 4804 Laurel Canyon Blvd., #534, Valley Village, CA  91607 or Epworth United Methodist Church, 2404 Lincoln Way West, South Bend, IN  46628.

To send online condolences, please visit www.kaniewski.com.