Calvis L. Mayfield Jr.

It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of Calvis L. Mayfield Jr. on April 23, 2022, after a lengthy illness.

Born to Calvis and Emma (VanHulle) Mayfield on Feb. 24, 1931, in Canton, Ohio, Cal was the oldest of four sons.

Cal married his high school sweetheart, Adrienne Chernits, on April 19, 1952. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War on the USS Elokomin. Cal graduated from Wilson High School in South Bend and the ACME School of Tool & Die.

His entrepreneurial spirit led him to form his own business, CM Grinding, Inc., where he was a precision grinder. An inventor and owner of mechanical patents, Cal was a consultant to many as well as an instructor in the machining program at Ivy Tech Community College.

He will be remembered as humble, patient, wise and a man generous with his time. Anyone who knew him was touched by how he made them feel welcome, his mild temperament, humor and generosity. He was the ultimate father, husband and grandfather. He could fix anything and figure out any problem presented.

Cal was a faithful man and a lifelong parishioner of Holy Family Catholic Church. He was instrumental in the construction of the current Knights of Columbus facility, Council 5570, where he served in several roles including Grand Knight. He would never miss a chance to help at their spaghetti dinners, fundraisers and as an advocate to Gibault School for Boys. Those K of C bonds formed lifelong friendships, shared fishing trips and poker games.

He was a former board member of the AAA Federal Credit Union for many years where he and Adrienne formed many cherished friendships. Cal and Adrienne were the biggest fans of their grandchildren's grade school, high school and college sporting events.

Cal was an avid and skilled fisherman, passing on the love of the sport to each of his grandchildren. Unforgettable memories were made in finding "the spot" for the best catch with grandpa. If fish weren't caught, patience, fun, humor and a love of the sport was always shared.

Leaving to cherish his memory are his daughters, Deborah of South Bend; Gwen (John) DeMaegd of South Bend and their children, Daniel (Paloma) of Phoenix, Arizona, and Joe (Hannah) of Phoenix, Arizona; Jennifer (Bill) Mehall and their children, Will (Nathaly) of Atlanta, Georgia, Jonathan (Carly) of Atlanta, Georgia, Michael (Hannah) of Mishawaka, Tim of South Bend; son, Michael (Diane) and their children, Derrick (Erin) of Ankeny, Iowa; great-grandchildren, Grant and Sloane Mayfield, Brent (Molly) of Indianapolis; Ryan (Darby) of Salt Lake City, Utah, Jillian, Peter, Jena and Brooke, all of South Bend; brothers, Robert (Josephine) of Mishawaka, Jerry (Pat) of South Bend, and Rodney (Joan) of New Carlisle.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Adrienne; and grandson, Mark Mayfield.

Visitation will be Friday, April 29, 2022, at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Dr., South Bend, Indiana, from 4 to 8 p.m. with a rosary at 5 p.m. A mass will follow at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 56405 S. Mayflower Rd., South Bend, Indiana, 46619.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Knights of Columbus Council 5570, 5202 W. Linden Ave., South Bend, IN, 46619.