Louis M. “Dick” Szymanski, 88, of South Bend, Ind., and a former resident of Knapp Lake, passed away on Dec. 1, 2013, in Memorial Hospital.

Dick was born Sept. 25, 1925, in South Bend to John and Annastasia Szymanski. On Sept. 29, 1956, Dick married Lily Bencsics. They had four children, Leonard “Buddy” Szymanski, Laura (Joseph) Jakubowicz, Larry (Sharon) Szymanski and LouRon (Tina) Szymanski.

Dick graduated from South Bend Catholic in 1945 and completed a four year tool and die apprenticeship. He served in the U. S. Army and retired from both South Bend Tool & Die and Honeywell.

Dick was a dedicated and valued member of M.R. Falcon’s Nest 4, South Bend Indiana where he held several offices throughout the years and is a Gold Legion of Honor Member he also was a member of VFW Post 253 North Webster and VFW Post 1342 Syracuse. He was also a member of St. John the Baptist Church, St. Martins de Porres Catholic Church in Syracuse and Holy Family Catholic Church South Bend.

He was always ready to tell a good joke, always ready to share a funny story and always greeted everyone with a smile. Next to his family, Dick’s greatest love was fishing and nature.

A memorial Mass will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 56405 Mayflower Rd. in South Bend. A celebration of Dick’s life will continue at 5 p.m. with dinner at M. R. Falcon’s, 3212 Keller St., South Bend.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Teachers Credit Union where an account is set up in the name of Louis Szymanski. Funds will be used to replenish and stock local lakes with hatchlings to ensure that other fishermen will enjoy the sport and nature as much as he did.