Wallace S. “Coach” Gartee Feb. 20, 1934 - Mar. 21, 2018 SOUTH BEND - Wallace S. “Coach” Gartee, 84, residing in South Bend, IN; passed away at 2:44 pm Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at Holy Cross Health & Rehabilitation Center. He was born Feb. 20, 1934 in South Bend, a son of the late Stanley & Elizabeth (Krizmanich) Gartee, and has remained a lifelong resident. On January 9, 1954 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, South Bend, he was united in marriage to Gayle M. Jones. He was preceded in death by his son, Michael W. Gartee on Sept. 20,2006. Surviving are his loving wife Gayle of 64 years, two daughters, Michelle (James) VanGoey, and Shari (Robert) Haller, both of South Bend, and a daughter-in-law, Deb (Thomas) Leonakis of South Bend. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Anne Gartee, Daniel (Kate) Gartee, Joshua VanGoey, Abbey VanGoey, Emily Haller, Madeline Haller, Shelly Paris, and Melissa Paris, along with two great-granddaughters, Ella & Claire Gartee, and four sisters, Cecelia DeVoir of St. Joseph, MI; Rose Wain of Elkhart, IN; Mary (Richard) Was of South Bend, IN; and Elizabeth (John) Hedrick of Mishawaka, IN. Mr. Gartee received his Master's degree in Education from Ball State University where he played football all four years. He began his teaching career with the South Bend Community School Corp., teaching Industrial Arts and Health at Jackson and Riley High Schools. He also served as the Coordinator of the Drivers Education Program for the School Corp. for 20 years. While teaching at Jackson & Riley High Schools, he was the head football coach for Jackson, where he was proud to coach his son Mike, and coached wrestling at Riley. Not one to sit still, he also served as Referee for wrestling, and was active in Fund Raising for the School Corp. as well. He served on the Board for the South Bend Water Works, was active in Aids Ministries, and served as a Homeland Security Officer. He received the Key to The City from former Mayor Steve Luecke. Being an avid fisherman, he taught all of his grandchildren life's lessons at the edge of the river bank. Seven o'clock Mass on Sunday morning was the “fisherman's mass”, as he called it, so they could hit the river early following Mass with doughnuts and chocolate milk. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 26, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, with Msgr. William Schooler officiating. Graveside services and burial will follow at Highland Cemetery, South Bend. The family will receive friends one hour prior to mass Monday at the Church. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be offered to the Indiana Chapter Lupus Foundation of America, 9302 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46260. Online condolences to the family may be offered at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com. The Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, South Bend, is assisting the family with arrangements.
05/04/2018 JFC
