NIEDBALSKI, SYLVESTER I.

SOUTH BEND – Sylvester “Sal” E. Niedbalski, 86, passed away at 9:12 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, 2009, in Keepsake Village, Columbus, IN.

Sal was born on November 7, 1922, in South Bend, to the late Sylvester and Clementine (Zamiatowski) Niedbalski. On September 14, 1946, in South Bend, Sal married Esther (Jankowski), who passed away on December 31, 2006. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Leonard M. Niedbalski.

Sal is survived by his sons, Garry (Bette) of Columbus, IN, Jeffrey (Debbie), Les (Colleen) and Bradley (Mary), all of South Bend; seven grandchildren, Brian, Jeffrey II, Robert, Noah, Anthony, Sarah and Mariah; five great-grandchildren; four sisters, Eleanor Harringer of South Bend, JoAnn Mentzer of South Bend, Mary Ann D’Aleasandro of Montclair, NJ, and Jean Landuit of Livonia, MI; and a brother, Daniel Niedbalski of South Bend.

Sal worked at United Foam before retiring in 1978. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 18 months in the South Pacific. He was a member of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion under “Iron Mike” Edson. Sal loved euchre, bowling and fishing. He also played baseball with American Legion Post 357. He participated on the 1939-1940 Washington High School Baseball Champion Team.

He was a parishioner at St. Adalbert Catholic Church where he was involved with the St. Joseph Young Men’s Club.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. today, June 3, in St. Joseph Funeral Home, 824 S. Mayflower Road, where a Rosary will be prayed at 4 p.m. A funeral service will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 4, in the funeral home. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, South Bend. Visitation will also be from 9 to 10 a.m. on Thursday morning in the funeral home prior to the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.