Paul B. Dits

June 20, 1919 - Jan. 11, 2018

SOUTH BEND - Paul B. Dits journeyed from the Inn at St. Paul's to Heaven on Jan. 11, 2018, but he probably stopped first in his beloved homeland, the Netherlands, for coffee and a taartje. Well deserved. At 98, this father of seven had taken his experiences with hunger, borne as a POW in World War II, and turned it into a passion to help the poor. He also became a Catholic as the war began, then forging his new faith in the prison camps where the drafted Dutch soldier was held in Germany for two years, from 1943 to 1945.

Michiana would eventually benefit as Paul became one of the first permanent deacons ordained in the area in 1974. In that role, he was a chaplain in the St. Joseph County Jail and brought Holy Communion to patients at Healthwin, Memorial and St. Joseph hospitals. He also baptized some of his grandchildren and married two of his children. He led the St. Vincent de Paul Society in the 1960s and later spent 15 years sitting with terminally ill patients through a local hospice organization.

He was born Bastiaan Dits in Rotterdam and adopted the name Paul after becoming a Catholic. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1947, first exploring the priesthood, then writing to his love, Anna Maria van der Pol, back in Holland, and asking her to come and marry him. She agreed. They wed May 6, 1950, in St. Columbanus Church in Chicago. They lived in Kalamazoo and Holland, Mich., and in Logansport, Ind., before settling in South Bend. Paul worked as a salesman to support their growing family, retiring in 1985 from pharmaceuticals. He and Mom taught their kids to nurture the earth with a garden, flowers and (briefly) chickens.

He caught what he called the “bug for Haiti,” where he visited three times to help with shipping medical supplies. He many spent years collecting and sorting medical supplies at home for missions in Haiti, Guatemala and El Paso, Texas, and East St. Louis, Ill. Among countless causes, he donated to missions in Haiti, including a Dutch priest, Father Bohnen, who ran schools for poor kids. Mission trips also took him to Guatemala and Mexico.

Paul loved to travel, taking the family on camping trips to Canada and around the country. He and Mom returned to Holland and to Germany, Switzerland and Belgium. They made pilgrimages to Our Lady of Lourdes in France and to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Maria and Johannes Dits; a stepfather, Carel Cavalini; and a brother, Jan Dits. Surviving are his wife of 67 years, Anna Maria Dits, and children: John Dits of Phoenix, Ariz.; Paul (Marcia) Dits of Indianapolis; Mary Ann (Dan) Rodts of Niles; Tom (Elena) Dits of Granger; Peter (Stephanie) Dits of Colleyville, Texas; David (Melanie) Dits of Granger; and Joseph Dits of South Bend. As an Opa, he leaves 14 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren: Amy Owens (with sons, Caden and Darion); Theresa Groth (with daughter, Tienica and son, Tragen); Brian Leddy; Sean Leddy (with sons, Cameron and Tyler and Jackson and daughter, McKenzie); Maddie, Danny and Sammy Rodts; Andrew, Christine and Mike Dits; Beth Falls (with son, Rory); Jillian and Avery Dits; and Tyler Dits.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Jan 15 with a rosary prayed at 6:30 p.m. at Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th St., Mishawaka. A funeral Mass will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan 16 at St. Bavo Church, 501 W. 7th St., Mishawaka. A private burial will be at Queen of Peace Cemetery at Saint Mary's College.

Memorial donations may be made to the Center for Hospice Care, either via centerforhospice.org or by check to Hospice Foundation, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545.

To leave the family an online condolence, please visit www.hahnfuneralhomes.com.

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Published by South Bend Tribune on Jan. 13, 2018.