John Frucci Sr., 91
Born: March 25, 1921

Died: June 4, 2012

John T. Frucci Sr., 91, of Niles and formerly of the Diamond Lake community of Cassopolis, died at 2:20 a.m. Monday, June 4, 2012, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka following a brief illness.

He was born March 25, 1921, in Filadelfia, Italy, to Dominic and Angela (Mazzotta) Frucci.

He came to Niles in 1937 and graduated from Niles High School. He began his employment on the railroad as a locomotive fireman before entering the United States Army.

After a tour of duty, mostly in the European Theater, he returned as a World War II veteran.

John lived in this area the rest of his life, working as a bartender at the former Franky’s restaurant and the Diamond Harbor Inn.

He had also worked at the Elks Lodge in Three Rivers and owned the Hickory Inn in Jones for several years.

He was a member of St. Mark Catholic Church in Niles; a member of the B.P.O. of Niles Elks 1322; and a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose 449 in Buchanan.

He enjoyed golfing, gardening and fishing.

John was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Vito Frucci, and sisters, Betty Fink and Barbara Rondinelli.

Surviving family includes a son, John A. Frucci Jr., of Niles; a granddaughter, Jessica L. Frucci, of Stevensville; and several nieces and nephews.

The family of John T. Frucci Sr. will gather privately at his grave in Calvary Cemetery, Niles, for committal rites offered by the Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C., of St. Mark Catholic Church.

Contributions in memory of John may be made to the donor’s choice.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

John’s family asks that his friends remember him sometime when turning over a spade-full of soil in the garden or when looking down the fairway at the golf course.