JOHN ROBERT STOCCO

John Robert "J.R." "Stoker" Stocco, 85, of Virginia, Minn., died Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, in the Virginia Convalescent Center in Virginia.

He was born May 15, 1927 in Nashwauk, Minn., the son of Samuel and Olga (Elj) Stocco.

During his childhood John's mother passed away, and his dad was remarried to Lillian Raskovich, who raised John and his family. John enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II and was honorably discharged. He married Julia Ann Prich on July 15, 1950 in Marble, Minn., and lived in Calumet prior to moving to Virginia in 1951. John was employed by Conveyor Belt Service; the Virginia School District as maintenance man; owned, operated and maintained an apartment building; and was a locomotive engineer for the Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range Railroad retiring after more than thirty years of service.

He was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, where he had served on the Church Council, the Marquette School Board, the Knights of Columbus, the Italian-American Club, the Virginia Moose Lodge, and the Pratt-Volden-Mickelson-Anderson American Legion Post No. 239 of Virginia. The family home's manicured lawn and trees were a testament of how much John loved to be outdoors and work in the yard. In earlier years, John deer hunted with his brothers, and spent many winters in Arizona. He loved to tinker on projects, and would help out a friend at the drop of a hat. John was a great storyteller and humorist who loved to dance, polka and make people laugh. He was a hard worker who was proud of his Italian heritage, and built several of his family's homes. Most of all he cherished the family that he and "Ma" made and loved the time spent with his children and grandchildren.

John is survived by his wife Julia; children Cindy (Brian) Plesha of Virginia, Denise (Brian) Morgan of Mt. Iron, Mary Kay Stocco (fiancé Scott Gerdes) of Virginia, John Stocco of Spencer, Iowa and Lisa (Michael) Perala of Virginia; siblings Marion (Marian) Barta of Pengilly, Sam (Joanne) Stocco of Scottsdale, Ariz., Jim (Eleanor) Stocco of Marble, Dick (Shirley) Stocco of Nashwauk and Pam (Earl) Sjogren of Florida; brother-in-law Matt Lott; sister-in-law Gloria Raskovich; grandchildren Steven Plesha, Erynn Plesha, Brittany Morgan (Luke) Chopp, Brooke Morgan, John Morgan, Nathan Stocco, Robert Stocco, Anthony Perala, Juliann Perala, Jack Perala; his first great-grandchild due in June; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother Lillian (Raskovich) Stocco; siblings Angeline Lindgren, Loretta Hanson, Rosella VanTassell, Evelyn Church, Louis Stocco, George Raskovich, John Raskovich, Louis Raskovich, Pat Raskovich, and Patricia Lott.

VISITATION: 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013 in the Bauman-Cron Funeral Home Chapel in Virginia. The visitation will continue in Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013 beginning with a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 9:30 a.m. and continuing until the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Reverend Father John O'Donnell will celebrate the Mass. Spring interment will take place at the Calvary Cemetery in Virginia.

Memorials are preferred in place of floral arrangements.

Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home, in Virginia. To express condolences on-line please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com.

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