Nov. 27, 1921 -- Nov. 13, 2004

Ervin W. Lagocki, 82, of South Bend, Ind., passed away at 12:45 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, in Memorial Hospital.

Ervin was born on Nov. 27, 1921, into the union of Walter L. Lagocki and Genevie (Rybak) Lagocki. Ervin was employed at Bendix and retired from Bendix on Dec. 23, 1981, as a prototype technician in the Experimental Engineering Department for 28 years. In November 1943, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he served aboard the U.S.S. New Jersey (Battleship) 6th Fleet. He was discharged October 1945 as Chief Petty Officer.

On May 16, 1945, in St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, he married the former Betty Pierzynski, who survives. Also surviving are two sisters, Gloria (Ernest) Piechocki of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Betty (John) Peczkowski of South Bend; four nieces, Carol (Jerry) Grontkowski of Granger, Ind., Susan (Bill Spier) of Rolling Prairie, Ind., Gail Peczkowski of River Forest, Ill., Sandy (Tim) Golichowski of Granger; a nephew, Jim Piechocki of Kalamazoo,; three great nieces, Jody (Steve) Sass, Erin Grontkowski, Hannah Golichowski; four great nephews, Cody Piechocki, Jeff Grontkowski, Luke Golichowski, David Balog; two great-great nieces, Sarah Sass, Lexie Balog; and a great-great nephew, Elliot Moore.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, in Holy Family Church. Entombment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday in Kaniewski Funeral Home, where a rosary will be prayed at 4 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church, 56405 Mayflower Road, South Bend, IN 46619.

Ervin was a member of Holy Family Parish, Knights of Columbus Arch Bishop Carol Council #5570, The Elks B.P.O. Lodge 235, and the Bendix Retirement Club. He was a former member of St. Stanislaus Choir and Usher's Club.

A special thanks to Betty and John Peczkowski, their daughters, and to Jodi Sass, for all of their support during Ervin's illness. The family would also like to thank the nurses on 9 South of Memorial Hospital and Dr. Brian Jacobs for all the care they provided Ervin, and John and Louise Rucano for all of their visits.

Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.