Warren "Rod" D. Chamberlin

Warren D. “Rod” Chamberlin, 85, of Mishawaka, passed away at home on Sunday, March 6, 2022.

Warren was born on December 27, 1936, and grew up on Wenger Avenue in Mishawaka, along with his nine older brothers and sisters. After completing St. Joseph Elementary School and Beiger Junior High, he attended Mishawaka High School, where he was an accomplished long-distance runner on the track and cross country teams before graduating in 1956.

Warren began his extensive working career mixing milkshakes at Mishawaka’s first McDonald’s drive-in on Lincolnway West during the day, and closing up on the evening shift at another McDonald’s in Elkhart. He gained valuable experience from a variety of jobs until he began serving the community as a custodian for School City of Mishawaka for 32 years, with the majority of his career at Mishawaka High School.

Just when many had assumed Warren was a committed bachelor, at the age of 37 he fell in love with Joyce Ruthsatz. They were married on September 28, 1974, and shared more than 42 years together until she passed away in November of 2017.

Warren enjoyed a variety of activities throughout his life. Besides excelling in competitive golfing competitions on Putt-Putt golf courses, Warren was also a collector of depression era glassware, sports cards and vintage beer cans. His greatest joy, however, came from his extensive collection of Peanuts memorabilia, with a definite emphasis on anything Snoopy! Warren had one of the largest collections in the state, and he was a founding member of the annual Snoopy Midwest Collectors Fest - traveling around the country for its annual conventions.

Preceding Warren in death were his wife, Joyce; parents George L. and Bernice (Edgar) Chamberlin; brothers Edgar, Donald, Bruce, Ray; sisters Alice, Sally, Frances.

Warren is survived by a brother Tom (Gerry) Chamberlin, a sister Ruthie Hinton and dozens of nieces and nephews.

Visitation is Wednesday, March 9, from 3:30 to 7:00 p.m. in Goethals & Wells Funeral Home, 503 W. 3rd Street, Mishawaka, with a rosary preceding the visitation at 3:15 p.m. Visitation will also be Thursday from 9:30 -10:15 at the funeral home.  The family requests that masks be worn at the visitations.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, March 10, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 225 S. Mill St., Mishawaka, where Warren was baptized and raised.  Rev. Jacob Meyer of St. Monica Catholic Church, where Warren and Joyce were members as adults, will be the celebrant. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery.

Charitable donations can be made to RiverBend Cancer Services at 3516 E. Jefferson Blvd, South Bend, IN 46615 or Center for Hospice Care at 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545.