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- John L. Venegoni 86, of Murphysboro died
at 5:14 pm Thursday, September 18, 2008 in Murphysboro. John was born in
Murphysboro, April 23, 1922 a son to the late Balthaser Louis and Lillie
E. (Berger) Venegoni. He was united in marriage to Willetta Lucille
Bedsworth on November 29, 1949 in Kansas City, MO.; Willetta preceded
him in death on September 15, 2000.
- John attended St. Andrew Catholic School
and graduated from Murphysboro Township High School in the class of
1940. He attended a trade school in Trenton, NJ., and the Dave Rankin
School of Mechanical Trades in St. Louis, MO., He enlisted in the U.S.
Army on August 26, 1942 and entered service at Jefferson Barracks in St.
Louis, MO., he was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Force and attained the
rank of Sergeant serving as a gunnery instructor and Crew Chief on the
B-17's. He was stationed in Roswell, NM., when the Enola Gay and the
Great Artiste returned from Japan after dropping the atomic bombs. John
was honorably discharged at Santa Ana, CA., on February 6, 1946.
- John was a member of St. Andrew Catholic
Church; he was a life member of American Legion Paul Stout Post 127, and
a member of the Murphysboro Senior Citizens. In 1936 and 1937 he was a
member of the Sons of the American Legion Drill Team under the direction
of Sherman Carr; in 1936 the Drill Team won the Illinois State
Championship and traveled to New York to compete in the National
Championship. For several years he worked for North American in Downey,
CA., working on the Apollo Moon Rocket program then later retired from
Howard Hughes Industries in Irvine, CA. John was a humanitarian
supporting Native Americans, wildlife and those less fortunate.
- Graveside services will be at 11 am
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at St. Andrew Cemetery in Murphysboro,
Father Gary Gummersheimer of St. Andrew Church will officiate. Crawshaw
Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to St.
Andrew Church or St. Andrews School and will be accepted at the funeral
home, the church or school.
- Survivors include his sister; Mary L.
Grob of Murphysboro, a niece and her husband; Suzanne and Maurice McCann
of Murphysboro, his nephew; Robert W. Grob of Murphysboro, two great
nephews; Mathew McCann of Murphysboro and Sean Wolters and his wife
Kendra of Steelville, also nephews; David Clubb of Quincy, CA., Timothy
Clubb of Sacramento, CA., nieces; Susan Wilkerson of Chico, CA., and
Joetta Westmoreland of Bonsall, CA. In addition to his parents and wife
he was preceded in death by two brother-in-laws; Bill W. Grob and
Herbert Bedsworth.
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