Dr. Walter J. Filipek

Dr. Walter J. “Skip” Filipek, 79, of South Bend, Indiana passed away on Thursday, July 3, 2025. He was born on April 30, 1946, in South Bend to the late Walter J. and Eleanor (Pilawski) Filipek. On August 23, 1975, he married Barbara A. Young in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame. Walter is survived by his loving wife Barbara; five children: daughter Elizabeth Anne Filipek and sons Ross (Holly) Filipek, Brian Filipek, Paul Filipek, and James (Perla) Filipek, all of South Bend; seven grandchildren: Kaylee, Gavin, Clark, Akira, Annie, Lydia and Henry; one sister, Sharon (Joseph) Welch of Hannibal, Missouri; and one brother, Bruce Filipek of South Bend. He was preceded in death by his parents; one younger sister, Mary Filipek, who died at birth; and one older sister, Mary Ellen Scandale.

Walter graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in 1964 as the valedictorian of his class, graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1968, and graduated from Indiana University Medical School in 1972.

He was an independent practitioner of pulmonary medicine for many years in his office at Memorial Hospital in South Bend. His dedication to his work earned him the respect of many colleagues, and his stories and sense of humor were unrivaled. He will truly be missed by all who knew him.

Walter loved to spend time with his wife, family, grandchildren, and pets. He was always prepared to be a good host for his friends and family and loved to make and serve refreshments for his lucky guests.

Throughout his life, he loved taking his family on trips to New Orleans, skiing in Colorado, and spending time at the family’s cottage in Wisconsin. It was there that he loved to fish, boat, split firewood, and make campfires for everyone to enjoy.

He loved his alma mater—Notre Dame—and all its athletic programs. But football was his favorite, and over the course of his life he amassed (and gladly shared) an encyclopedic knowledge of the program’s history and achievements.

A visitation for Walter will be held from 4:00pm until 7:00pm on Friday, July 11 at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Dr., South Bend. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 12 at 11:00am at Christ the King Catholic Church, 52473 State Hwy 933, South Bend. A visitation will be held in the church from 10:30am until 10:50am. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Polish Roman Catholic Cemetery, 24980 IN-2, South Bend.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Walter’s honor to the Humane Society of St. Joseph County or to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana.