Joseph A. MacQuivey

July 31, 1927 - Feb. 10, 2016

SOUTH BEND - Joseph A. MacQuivey, a longtime resident of South Bend, passed away Wednesday, February 10, at Sanctuary at St. Paul's.

Joe was born in Wendell, Idaho, on July 31, 1927, the second of two children of the late Arthur N. and Evalyn (Wheeler) MacQuivey.

In 1933 the family moved to South Bend, Indiana. He graduated from Riley High School and from Indiana University, Bloomington, (where he met his lifelong sweetheart) in 1949. Upon graduation, Joe entered the family business, Mac's Machines, a coin-operated phonograph business, dealing with taverns and restaurants in the Michiana area. He worked side by side there with Tom Truax, who was to become his best friend of 45 years. On July 29, 1950, in Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, Joe married Jean Louise Clark of South Bend, and the couple made their home here. Daughter, Karen, their honeymoon baby, soon joined them, as did son Scott two years after that.

In 1961, Joe assumed ownership of the business from his father and added a small record store, Mac's Record Rack, next to the River Park Theater in South Bend.

Joe and Jean worked the business (as did Karen and Scott) until it was sold in 1978. Retirement never suited Joe, though. Two years later, he and Jean joined four friends to open an unfinished furniture store, Naturally Wood, in the old Town and Country Shopping Center. As managing partners they taught themselves the trade by trial and error, often returning home late into the evening, drenched in the sweet smells of linseed oil and varnish.

In 1990, after retiring from Naturally Wood, Joe was employed for two years with Silver's Vending. He retired again.

Joe has said that because he had no particular hobbies to keep him busy and was getting underfoot, Jean suggested he do some volunteer work. So he did just that, working first at Memorial Hospital and then with his friend Jim Monserez for over 16 years at St. Joe Regional Medical Center. They greeted each new patient at the registration desk, personally walking them to their appointments all over the hospital. (Joe would tell you he did this because he was never given a chair but we doubt it. He loved greeting people and trying to set them at ease).

Joe was active in the South Bend community throughout his life. He served on the board of the Music Operators of America, was a longtime member of Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, where he served as both deacon and elder, and was a lifetime member of the Indiana University Alumni Association. He was a 50-year member of Mishawaka Masonic Lodge 130, achieving the third degree (only after three tries, he liked to point out), and 50-year associate member of the Mishawaka Lodge FOP, and Scottish Rite of South Bend. He once explained his long term service in so many organizations like this: “Well, if you make it to 50 years, they stop charging you dues!”

Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, and son, Scott. He is survived by daughter, Karen MacQuivey, and grandson, Matthew, both of Seattle, and daughter-in-law, Stacy MacQuivey, and grandson, Joey, both of Mishawaka.

Never one to make a fuss, Joe requested no services, pre-planned his cremation and burial, and wrote this obituary years ago! Arrangements are under the care and direction of Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel and Southlawn Cremation Services, South Bend, IN. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Center for Hospice (centerforhospice.org), Sunnyside Presbyterian Church (115 S. Frances St., South Bend, IN 46617, or sunnysidechurch.org), or the charity of your choice .

We'd like to thank the dear hearts at Sanctuary at St. Paul's for making his last years so peaceful.

And to Pat and Scott Pier, who tended and supported two generations of MacQuiveys, making it possible for Joe to stay longer in his own home and Karen to easily visit from across the country once he went into nursing care, we offer heartfelt thanks as well. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/southbendtribune/obituary.aspx?n=joseph-a-macquivey&pid=177791920&fhid=7078&eid=sp_ommatch#sthash.QRZdLlJw.dpuf