Michael Chismar

Michael A. Chismar, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Chismar of Garfield. N.J., died at the age of 82 on May 9, 2025 in Iowa City, Iowa at the VA Medical Center. Michael graduated from Pope Pius High School in Passaic, New Jersey.
Upon graduation, Michael enlisted and served as Active-Duty Wartime for four years (1960 – 1964) and another two years of Active-Reserve Wartime (1965 – 1966) in the United States Marine Corps as an 0311-Rifleman. As an enlisted Private, Mike was stationed at Camp LeJune, North Carolina where he completed Basic Training and earned the Distinguished Honors of the 1st Good Conduct Award, Pistol Expert Badge, and Rifle Sharpshooter Badge. After Camp LeJune, Mike was deployed to Sasebo, Japan where he earned the "Marine of the Month" and a 2nd Good Conduct Award. Mike was a member of the Marine Corps Judo Team and studied and earned Black Belt honors from the Kodokon, the worldwide Headquarters for the Judo community, where he competed. Mike studied and learned to speak Japanese at Meiji University in Tokyo while receiving an education from Atsugi (1962), University of Maryland EXT (1963), and Eastern Carolina College EXT (1964).
After his tour of duty, Mike attended Columbia University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and the University of Notre Dame where he graduated in 1968 with a B.A. degree in Business & Finance. After graduating from Notre Dame, Mike attended the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana while raising a young family in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mike also served as the Chairman for the Young Republicans for the State of Indiana while in law school.
As a professional, Mike served the Honorable Edgar D. Whitcomb, 43rd Governor of the State of Indiana, worked as a Controller for the State of Indiana and served as the Director of Motor Vehicles for the State of Indiana. Mike worked for Merchants Bank in Indianapolis before relocating to South Bend where he worked for Bendix Corporation, Aon (Chicago), and the University of Notre Dame as a Director of Development. After Notre Dame, Mike pursued his entrepreneurial calling as a seasoned professional devoting his time to serving the needs of the United States Veterans and the spirit behind GoIrish.com in 1996. Over his lifetime, Mike spearheaded numerous volunteer projects, including but not limited to the "Rebuilding of the NW Side of Cedar Rapids" after the 2008 flood, U.S.M.C. Toys for Tots, Veteran's Adaptive Sports Initiative, and Veteran Affordable Housing. Mike also founded a 501(c)3 non-profit organization responsible for aiding with municipal and civic economic development.
As a family man, Michael is survived by his former wife Julie, his three children (Michael III & Raquel, Andrew, and Catherine), his seven grandchildren (Hannah, Juliette, Michael IV, Dedrick, Dymonte, Arianna, and Zoey), and his brother J. Robert Chismar and his children (John, Jimmy, and Jessica).
Michael was Dad first, then a Notre Dame man with a relentless dedication to his Country and the men and women who served, the United States Marine Corps, and faith filled child of God. He taught his children to be kind and tender yet passionate with determination and direction and to "always do good and go for it".
His generous heart will be missed, but his loving example and spirit lives on in his children, grandchildren, and the Chismar name for all of eternity. Amen.
You did good, Dad.
Go Irish !
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