Paul Alan Marnocha

Paul Alan Marnocha of Elkhart was born in South Bend, Indiana, on Nov. 22, 1951, to Marie (Delinski) Marnocha and Harry Marnocha, and died on Oct. 14, 2024, after an unrelenting battle with multiple health issues this year. He was 72.

He was the youngest of two sons; his brother Richard (Mary Lou) was eight years older. Paul grew up living next door to his "Busha" Delinski who, by his own admission, spoiled him rotten. As a young boy, Paul served as an altar boy at St. Hedwig's Church. Paul made numerous lifelong friends in grade school, and they were his Little League teammates when they won the South Bend City championship. He went on to graduate from Washington High School in 1969, where he was a member of the State Championship Football team. Paul was an avid sports enthusiast his entire life.

In his early 20s, Paul married Cathy Barcome and they had one child, Michael (Amanda) Marnocha. Although they divorced very early into their marriage, they co-parented Michael, and Cathy remained a close friend of Paul's. Paul continued to be a member of the Barcome family. In his 40s, Paul married Linda Lewis and welcomed her daughter, Karie, into his family. Linda died in her 40s and Paul remained an involved stepfather to Karie and continued to be a member of the Lewis family. Paul married Margaret ("Maggie") Folk Jones in 2012 after a 12-year romance. Paul welcomed Maggie's three children, William (Courtney) Jones, Andrew (Stephanie Decker) Jones, and Laura (Thomas) Plasschaert, into his life and became a beloved parent to them. One of his happiest moments was walking Laura down the aisle at her wedding, and dancing with her in the father/daughter dance.

Paul spent most of his adult career as a national sales manager. He was a natural salesman and loved people. Clients became close friends. It's hard to say whether Paul loved his Harleys or his golfing more. He had more golfing buddies than he could count, and every person in the neighborhood was his friend. When the weather was good, he was either on the Road King Classic or in his golf cart on the course behind the house. Paul and Maggie took many trips on the Harley, including riding the length of the Mississippi River and circling every Great Lake. Paul's love of travel and adventure never took a holiday. He visited every state in the union and loved them all.

Without a doubt, Paul's greatest love was his family. He was the proud Grandpa of 10 grandchildren: Eero Decker Jones (born on Paul's birthday), Theodore ("Teddy") Plasschaert, Thomas Plasschaert, William Jones, Zachary Marnocha, Lauren Marnocha, Emily Marnocha, Logan Miller, Devyn Miller, and Fharra Miller. He never quit missing his brother after he died but remained close with Richard's wife Mary Lou and sons, Mark and Rick.

Special thanks to his health care providers: Dr. Sam Borelli, Paul's oncology team at the University of Chicago Medical Center, and Brickyard Healthcare, and his many friends including Alan and Michelle Engel, Del Littrell and Bob Korfmann. Memorial contributions can be made to Paul's favorite charity, Shriners Children's Hospital. Paul will be greatly missed. Please remember him with a smile.

Visitation will be held on Oct. 25 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 26 from 10 to 11 a.m. with the funeral to follow, at Palmer's Funeral Homes, Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan St., South Bend, Indiana. Online condolences may be offered to Paul's family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.