Joseph John Gyarmati

Joseph John Gyarmati, 94 years old, passed away at 1:55 a.m. on Saturday, November 2, 2019, at Southfield Village in South Bend, IN.  Joe was born January 4, 1925 in Mishawaka, IN to the late Joseph and Victoria Gyarmati.

In June, 1946, Joe married Geraldine Bruynell.  They were together 31 years and had two sons, John (Sue) Gyarmati of Cedarburg, WI and Joseph (Karen) Gyarmati of South Bend, IN.  Geraldine passed away in July, 1977.  Joe married Doris Cooper in 1978 and she still resides in Mishawaka, IN.

Joe retired from Uniroyal in 1982 after 30 years as a special machine designer and mechanical engineer.  He chose early retirement to go into a business partnership with his son Joseph Jr.  They owned and operated Waka Mfg., Inc. in Mishawaka.

Although, he was born and lived in Mishawaka, when he was a boy his family moved to a farm in Bourbon, IN, where he lived until he was age 16.  He moved to work on a farm in Plymouth, MI, where he met Henry Ford.  During WWII he moved back to Mishawaka and was introduced to Geraldine Bruynell.

Joe was always mechanically inclined and developed an interest in how machines worked.  He became a master mechanic and engineer.  He had many other interests in his life.  For a number of years he was an apprentice electrician and carpenter.  He built several houses in the Michiana area.  Dad also, was a licensed pilot and studied many types of airplanes in hopes of building one of his own.  As his sons were growing up, dad became a Boy Scout Leader.

Joe is survived by his wife, Doris, sons John (Sue) Gyarmati and Joe (Karen) Gyarmati; 4 grandchildren; Andrea (Geoff) Hoffman, Kathleen (Jake) Foglesong, Elizabeth (Matt) Olickas and Joseph M. Gyarmati.  Dad also has 4 great-grandchildren: Bennet Hoffman, Nolan Hoffman, William Foglesong and Aubrey Foglesong.

Joe was predeceased by his sisters; Elizabeth, Bernice and Irene.

Joe’s family would like to thank the people at Southfield Village Healthcare for their loving care of our dad.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 6, 2019, from 4-7 at Goethals & Wells Funeral Home, 503 W 3rd Street, Mishawaka, IN  46544.  Funeral service will be Thursday, November 7, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. at Goethals & Wells Funeral Home with Father Terry Fisher of St. Matthew Cathedral officiating.