John Joseph Kominkiewicz

SOUTH BEND – John Joseph Kominkiewicz, 73, of South Bend, IN, passed away Wednesday, August 2, 2023.

He was born in South Bend, IN, on November 25, 1949 to his parents, Leo and Felicia (nee Milewski). John was preceded in death by his father and mother.

He was married to Dr. Frances (Bernard) Kominkiewicz for 50 years. They were married on June 2, 1973, in Little Flower Catholic Church, South Bend, IN. 

John is survived by his wife and his two children and their families whom he dearly loved: son, Joseph John Kominkiewicz, and daughter-in-law, Danting Jiang; and his daughter, Lauren Kathryn Kominkiewicz, and son-in-law, Jeffrey Dunham. He also leaves behind two of the most beautiful granddaughters a grandfather could ever have, and the apples of his eye, Holly Dunham and Nora Dunham.  Others John is leaving behind include his older brother, David (Carol) Kominkiewicz; his younger brother, James (Beth) Kominkiewicz; and his younger sister, Susan (James) Lukaszewski; and many beloved nieces and nephews, including his goddaughter, Jennifer.

John was a very proud graduate of Saint Mary’s Campus School, formerly on the grounds of Saint Mary’s College; John Adams High School, where he excelled in baseball, was even scouted by the Chicago White Sox, and served as an athletic trainer; the Indiana University Kelly School of Business with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Economics; and of the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Pastoral Theology Program, Saint Mary of the Woods, IN, with a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Theology. 

He retired from 1st Source Bank after 26 years and then in retirement worked for the Center for Disease Control.  He also worked as the office/business manager at Right to Life of St. Joseph County and the Divine Mercy Chapel in South Bend, IN, and was proud of the people he helped. 

John was a long-time member of St. Matthew Cathedral and was a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus.  He displayed a love for all things sports including the Cubs and the White Sox, Notre Dame Football, and the Bears. You could not have had a conversation with him without knowing that he coached his daughter on the St. Matthew’s Girls’ Soccer Team to a championship! He traveled with his son to Medjugorje and with his son and daughter to Germany and Poland.  All who met John became an instant friend.  He held a deep love of trivia, Jeopardy, and history that he could whip out at a moment’s notice.  The legacy he leaves behind is the sum of a life guided by love and dedication to passions.

John’s family greatly appreciates the many thoughts and prayers they received from so many people.  All are invited to leave online condolences and/or share memories of John at www.kaniewski.com.  Visitation will be held at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, IN on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 from 3 to 7 p.m., with the Recitation of the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at St. Therese Little Flower Catholic Church, South Bend, IN, on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at 12:00 p.m.  Entombment will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery on the University of Notre Dame campus. 

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the charity of your choice or plant a tree in John’s name.

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