John C. DeMeester

John C. DeMeester of South Bend passed away on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at Southfield Village at the age of 92. He was born February 28, 1933, in Mishawaka to the late Cyril and Bertha (Van Daele) DeMeester. A 1952 graduate of Mishawaka High School, John went on to serve his country as a Private First Class in the U.S. Army during the Korean War before his honorable discharge in 1955. On May 3, 1958, he married the love of his life, Delores Alexandrowicz, at St. Bavo Catholic Church in Mishawaka. Just this year, they celebrated 67 years of marriage, a true testimony to their lifelong love.

John worked as a Switching Equipment Technician for Indiana Bell for 33 years, retiring in 1983. He was a man who found joy in life’s simple pleasures like family cookouts and time on the beach at Baron Lake, renting cottages at Lake of the Woods, sailing adventures on Lake Michigan with his best friend Dick Whisler, or hopping on the South Shore Line with Delores for evenings in Chicago filled with dancing and wine tasting. Locally, they were regulars at the Louvered Door and the Notre Dame University Club, where Friday night dinner and dancing became a longtime tradition.

A proud fan of Notre Dame football, John served as an usher at home games for many years and loved tailgating with his family before kickoff at every home game. He also enjoyed family outings to amusement parks and took every opportunity possible to spend time with his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He led by example showing a deep love and devotion to Delores and his family.

John is survived by his wife, Delores DeMeester, and their children: Randy (Susan) DeMeester, Pamela (Brian) Brockway, Sherry Demske, Melissa “Missy” (Berlyn “Jeff”) Ware, and Melinda “Mindy” (Rocco) Sergio. Also surviving are his beloved grandchildren: Joshua (Katie Ott) DeMeester, Brendan (Kara) DeMeester, Jill Brockway, Kelli (Jeremy) Horvath, Derek Demske, Malary (James Foster) Demske, Jeremy (Melissa) Ware, Ashley (Brad) Young, Gabriella Sergio, Arianna Sergio, and Rocco Sergio. He was a proud great-grandfather to Paige, Piper, Beckham, Willow, Jonah, and Flynn DeMeester; Tyler, Payton, and Ashila Brockway; Zion and NaXyia Rassi; Trenton (Ally) and Kydin Horvath; Kennedie Brockway-Miller; Tripp and Leila Demske; Kyleigh and Braxton Ware; and Miles and Greyson Young. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Lois Leyes and Patricia DeMeester; grandsons, Michael DeMeester and Brian Brockway Jr.; a great grandson Braylon Young, and his great great-granddaughter, Harper Lynn Horvath.

Visitation will be held from 5–7 pm on Monday, July 28, 2025, at Wells and Cruz Family Funeral Home in Mishawaka, with funeral services following at 1 pm Tuesday, July 29, 2025, also at the funeral home. John will be laid to rest at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park in Granger. We invite those unable to attend in person to join us for a livestream of the funeral service, so everyone can honor and remember John together by viewing his service in real time in the window below.

In his memory, donations may be made to the Center for Hospice, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545. To light a virtual candle, share a story of John’s life, or leave a message of comfort for the DeMeester family, please follow the links on the Guestbook tab above.

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