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November 17, 2017SOUTH BEND, IN – James Edward Wack, M.D., 90, died peacefully of heart disease at his home on Wednesday, November 15, surrounded by his wife and children.
He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Alice Claire (nee Finley); daughters Theresa Sergio (Joseph) and Mary Gurr (Darrel); and sons James (Joann), Stephen, Michael (Denise), David, Kevin, Glenn (Pamela), Bishop William A. Wack, C.S.C, and Fr. Neil F. Wack, C.S.C.
He is also survived by his brother Thomas, sisters Marianne Doran and Joanne (Ray) Gans, brother John, and sister Margaret (William) Farmer; and twenty four grandchildren Carl (Jennifer), Jennifer, Christopher, Nathan, Michelle (Andrew), Theresa (Sean), Laura (Russell), James, Mary Alice (James), Thomas, Rachel (Joseph), Eric (Jill), Kevin (Molly), Emily (Adam), Seth, Thomas, Claire, Diane, Carrie, David (Krista), Brian, Adam (Elena), Robert, and Daniel; as well as twenty three great-grandchildren Emily, Ian, Aidan, Olivia, Edward, Alexander, Theodore, Joshua, Patrick, Joseph, Miriam, Evalena, William, Rosary, George, Eleanor, David, Kathleen, Benjamin, Matthew, William, Liam, and Phoebe; and numerous nieces, nephews and others.
On July 29, 1927, James was born in South Bend to George and Eleanor, who preceded him in death. He attended St. Joseph Grade School and Central Catholic High School. He served in the Navy for a short time in 1945 and graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1950. He received his medical degree from the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University in Chicago in 1954. He then interned at St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, OH, and married Alice, the joy of his life, on April 23, 1955. Following the internship, he then fulfilled his residency for two years at Memorial Hospital in South Bend. Next, he and Alice moved to the Air Force base in San Antonio, TX in 1957, where he received flight surgeon training. Following his discharge in 1959, they moved back to South Bend to start his private practice on Indiana Avenue as a family physician. He was easily recognizable in his trademark Hawaiian shirts, which he began wearing following a trip with Alice to Hawaii. After “retiring” from private practice in 1994, James served on staff at Healthwin Hospital, and volunteered at Maura Brannick Clinic and E. Blair Warner Family Practice for many years.
James had great faith in God, which he strengthened as a parishioner of Christ the King Catholic Church. He ushered there at 12:15pm Mass every Sunday. He trusted always in the Lord’s will, and he prayed every day, especially the Rosary, encouraging his family to do the same. He loved the University of Notre Dame, and loved attending ND football games and watching them on TV.
Mass of Christian Burial for Dr. Wack will be celebrated at 10:00 am Monday, November 20, 2017 in Christ the King Catholic Church, 52473 SR 933, South Bend, IN 46637. Graveside services and burial will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. Friends may visit with the family from 4:00 - 7:00 pm Sunday, November 19, 2017 in the Palmer Funeral Home - Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend, where a rosary will be recited at 7:00 pm.
Expressions of sympathy in memory of James can be donated to Christ the King Catholic Church. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com
