Richard A. Jun

Richard A. Jun, of South Bend, passed away on Monday, June 3, 2024 at the age of 72.  Rick was born on April 26, 1952 in South Bend to Donald and Rita (Lewandowski) Jun, where he grew up in a loving family.  He attended Holy Cross Catholic Church and School, and graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1970.   Rick graduated from Purdue University in 1974.  Rick worked 27 years at Bendix Corporation, and moved on to a second career at Press Ganey, where he retired in 2017. 

Rick was a devoted son, brother, husband, cousin, father, uncle, godfather, grandfather and friend.  On May 8, 1976, Rick married the love of his life, Carmen Marie Waller, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, and they shared forty-eight wonderful years of marriage together.  He was especially grateful to his sister Micki for playing matchmaker.  He loved and cherished his wife, always wanting her by his side.  His children, and then his grandchildren, were the joy of his life.  His face lit up every time he saw them, and they truly loved him and every minute spent with him.  He said that even after he was gone, he knew he would always protect his grandchildren, or in his words, “would always have their backs.” 

Rick was gentle, caring, and a wonderful man.  He was a parishioner of Corpus Christi Catholic Church, and his Catholic faith was a very important part of his life.  He was a decades-long member of the New Harmonies, singing at weekly Mass and many special occasions.  Rick always considered the members of the New Harmonies his second family.  He loved singing, listening to music, playing board games, playing basketball, gazing at the stars with his telescope, and grilling his famous hamburgers for family cookouts.  Rick was a huge sports fan.  He loved Boilermaker football and basketball, the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Bears. 

Rick fought a twenty-year long battle with cancer with courage and grace, always saying “I know God won’t give me more than I can handle,” and his doctor remarked that Rick was his best patient.  Throughout all of his health battles, he remained strong in his faith.  Rick’s biggest wish was to be with his wife at his passing, and his wife and children were blessed to be able to surround him as he passed peacefully.  His family is comforted knowing he knew God’s love and mercy, and that he felt he was prepared to meet the Lord. 

Rick is survived by his wife, Carmen (Waller) Jun of South Bend; his sisters Cheryl (David) Jeffers and Michelle (David) Remley; his two children, Matthew (Rachel) Jun and Mary (Nicholas) Derda; and his grandchildren Johnny Derda, Joey Derda, and Rebecca Jun.  Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Rita Jun, and his sister, Kathleen (Jun) Magyar. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:15 a.m., on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, with burial to follow at Highland Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, June 7, 2024, at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, where Vigil Prayers and a Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m.  Memorial Contributions may be made to Corpus Christi Catholic Church, South Bend, Indiana. To send online condolences, please visit kaniewski.com.

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