Deacon John E. Ramassini, age 66, of Tomahawk, passed away March 17, 2012, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, with his wife Kathy by his side.
John was born Sept. 21, 1945, the son of the late Edward and Mary Rita (Scheider) Ramassini, in Pittsburgh, PA. He married the former Kathleen Howley on Jan. 27, 1968 in Pittsburgh, PA. She survives.
John had served in the U.S. Air Force in Boston, Okinowa and Viet Nam from 1964 to 1967. He was a graduate of the University of Ohio – Toledo. Over his lifetime John was a manager in transportation and logistics with J & L Steel Corporation – Pittsburgh, PA, Nekoosa – Maumes, OH, PCA/Tenneco – Tomahawk, WI & Evanston,IL, and Tomahawk Railroad, Rail Management Corporation – Tomahawk, WI. John was ordained as a Deacon in the Diocese of Superior in October of 2003. He enjoyed playing baseball (as a left- handed pitcher), refereeing football and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He is survived by his wife Kathleen of Tomahawk, his children and grandchildren; Richard (Kris) and their son John Patrick of Pittsburgh, PA, David (Amanda) and their children Jake, Rea and Giada of Alameda, CA, Krista (Dan) Sipos and their sons Drew and Nathan of Pittsburgh, PA and Steven (Kristin) and their sons Zachary and Samuel of Williamsburg, VA; his siblings, Paul (Debby) of Naples, FL, Barbara (Darrell) Barr of Winston-Salem, NC, Mary Lee Ramassini (Patrick Thomas) of Sparks, NV and Jeannie Ramassini of Indian Wells, CA.
John was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Richard and a sister Alma.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Thursday, March 22, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Merrill. The Rev. Mike McLain will officiate. Concelebrants will be the Rev. James Horath and the Rev. John Anderson. Friends may call from 3-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, and again on Thursday, March 22, from 9:30-10:30 a.m., all at the Waid Funeral Home. A Vigil Prayer Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Waid Funeral Home. Burial of John’s cremated remains will take place this summer at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Pittsburgh, PA.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Merrill or to St. Mary Catholic School in Tomahawk.