Alexander Iwankowitsch Jr.

Alexander Iwankowitsch, 82, of Cromwell, died in his home on Wednesday January 12, 2022. He was born January 1, 1940, in Glibochka, Belarus, the son of Alexander and Maria (Stanul) Iwankowitsch.

During WWII, at the tender age of four, he was taken captive from his home in Belarus. He was miraculously reunited with his parents and sister at the age of 6. The family escaped the hostile warzone as refugees and fled to Grossenbrode, Schleswig Holstein, Germany. Rising tensions and fear of another war resulted in the family immigrating to America under sponsorship from a church in northern Indiana. Shortly after becoming a US citizen, he was drafted into the Army and served in the “Hell on Wheels” 2 ^nd Armored Division Fort Hood, TX. In 1963, he was one of 13,000 troops that participated in Operation Big Lift and an ironic twist of fate of this training exercise had him stationed near his childhood home in Germany.

After serving our country, Alex worked for Dana Corp for 42 years. Friends and family say that he could “fix anything” and had a unique skill that seasoned engineers would often seek his advice for the most complicated challenges.

He loved the wind in his hair whether that was driving his cherry red 1966 Mustang convertible back in the day or his boat in recent years on Lake Wawasee. He worked very hard but also loved to play with his wife on their travel vacations, IU games, and dancing for fun. He had a long loyal marriage of 52 years to Jean that loved and supported five children, seventeen grandchildren, and nineteen great-grandchildren.

Survivors include sister Sina (Robert) Scott of Fort Wayne, daughters Danielle (Cyrus) Dubash of Goshen, Nicole (Chad) Towner of Granger, Beth (John) Long of Sarasota, FL, Jill (Randy) Short of Fort Wayne, son Steve Dixon of Cromwell, his dear friend Sharon Hendrickson, and the ever-growing list of amazing great-grandchildren. Alex was preceded in death by his beloved wife Jean (Bowers) Iwankowitsch, his parents Alexander and Maria Iwankowitsch, nephew Eric Scott, brothers-in-law Lawrence Bowers, Theodore Bowers, and Andrew Bowers.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held in Alex's honor at 10 am on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at Yeager Funeral Home in Ligonier, IN. Interment will follow at Sparta Cemetery in Kimmell, IN where military honors will be rendered. If so desired, memorials may be directed to the American Legion #253 in North Webster, IN.