Published: July 10, 2008 01:48 pm            

Richard M. “Dick” Rembold Sr.

Richard M. ‘Dick’ Rembold Sr., 87; World War II veteran

A Mass of Christian burial for Richard M. “Dick” Rembold Sr., 87, of South Bend, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 12, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 920 Wilber Street, South Bend. He died Monday, July 7, 2008, in Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend, after battling an extended illness.

He was born May 31, 1921 in Owensboro, Ky., to J. Frank and Bertha (Weikel) Rembold.

Survivors include two daughters, Carole A. Chmiel and her husband, Jesse, and Kim P. Mozick, both of South Bend; two sons, Richard M. Jr, Mishawaka and Mark S., New Carlisle; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Mariam “Dottie” Schnapf and a brother. Wilber K. Rembold, both of Evansville; a sister-in-law, Elmabeth Evans, Omaha, Neb. and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Marcheta Jane (Hemenway); his parents; two sisters, Edith (Ray) Warren and Ann (Fred) Lebonsorger; three brothers, Herbert M. Rembold, Roy C. (Louise) Rembold, and John F. (Helen) Rembold; and by two great-grandchildren.

His family moved to Evansville in the early 1930s where he attended Evansville Memorial High School. He later moved to Watertown, Wis. to attend Sacred Heart Postulate which was known as the Juniorate for boys aspiring to become Holy Cross Brothers. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army in the North African and European Theatres of Operation. After World War II, he attended Indiana State University where he met his wife of 58 years. They were married on June 12, 1947. Upon receiving his Masters degree in special education, he went on to a lifetime of service dedicated to the betterment of the physically and developmentally disabled.

He served as the executive director of the Southeastern Indiana Rehabilitation Center in Clarksville, Northern Indiana Council for the Retarded, Elkhart Rehabilitation Center, Logan Center and Corvilla, Inc. Over the years, he served on numerous committees and boards of directors including: president, Floyd County Council for the Retarded; president, Floyd County Mental Health Association; board of directors, Indiana Rehabilitation Association; member, Special Education Advisory Committee, St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana; and chairman, Regional Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities Planning Committee, North Central Indiana. He was also a speech pathologist, school teacher, college instructor and substance abuse counselor.

Considered by many to be a pioneer in his field, he contributed to the establishment of and reforms in the methodologies used in the diagnoses, treatment, care and overall advancement of the disabled.

Noteworthy among these were his contributions to reforms in IQ testing and his work in the implementation of a newborn litmus test for Phenylketonuria thus helping to prevent one cause of mental retardation. And, at a time when the developmentally disabled were often simply institutionalized, he sought ways they could live meaningful lives as productive members of the community. He was committed to the belief that all people deserve to live lives of dignity.

He also worked closely with his wife, Marky, who for many years was the volunteer coordinator of the International Hospitality Program for foreign students at Notre Dame University and Saint Mary's College. They stayed close to many of those students long after they graduated.

He remained a passionate Notre Dame football fan even while wintering in Arizona with his wife. He was a long time member of Holy Cross Catholic Church. He was an avid civil war buff, thoroughly enjoyed long discussions on history, politics and religion, and was known for his quick wit. He took great pleasure in his large family and many friends.

He will be deeply missed by all.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 11, with a Rosary at 3 p.m., at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Dr., South Bend.

The family requests expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to Corvilla, Inc., 3231 Sugar Maple Business Ct., South Bend, IN 46628 or Logan Center, 2505 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, IN 46615.

To send online condolences, or to sign the guestbook, visit, www.kaniewski.com.

        

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