James Lee Mucci

James L. Mucci 67, of Ottawa passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 19th at his home with his family by his side. A Mass of Christian burial will be at St. Mary's Church in Naplate at 10:00 am on Thursday, with Reverend Phillip Halfacre officiating. Internment will be at Oakwood Memorial Mausoleum. Visitation will be from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday with prayers at 3:00pm at the Ottawa Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Kyle Mucci, Hunter Mucci, Dominic Mucci, William Mucci, Tom Darif and Joe Balocchi. Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Johnson, Gerry Gorski, Girard Besenhart and Mike Hall. Jim was born December 12, 1942 in Ottawa, Il., the son of Delpho and Helen (Griglione) Mucci. He married Cheryl Ruestman January 21, 1966. They divorced: she survives as his friend. Jim was the loving Father of three sons, Anthony, Ottawa, Andrew (Erika), Ottawa and Justin (Naplate). The light of his life was his six grandchildren, Kyle, Hunter, Torri, Alex, Lauren and Aiden all of Ottawa, also a new baby to be born in January, 2011. He is also survived by his brothers Wayne (Karen) Mucci, Lutz, Fl., and John (Kay) Mucci, Morrison, Il., seven nieces and nephews, Jason (Kathy) Mucci, Chicago, Il., Maria (Mike) Garland, Morrison, Il., Joey, Sujo, China, Toni (Jeff) Palan, St. Charles, Il., Keith Griglione, Mt. Clemens, Mi., Dominic, Morrison, Il., Jackie (Jim) Higgins, Elkhart, In., five aunts, Marilyn (Joe) Warren, Ottawa, Doris (Geno) Darif, Ottawa, Karen (Gus) Leiteritz, Ottawa, Elsie (Hank) Mucci, Bloomington, Il., Jane (Eugene) Mucci, Naplate, two Uncles Jack (Loretta)Wisnewski and Ronald Griglione, and many great nieces, nephews and cousins. He graduated from Marquette High School in 1961. He was a member of the Varsity Club, excelling in football, basketball, baseball and track. He set a pole vaulting record and a softball throw record. He continued his love for baseball as a Little League Coach for many years. After serving 4 years in the U.S. Navy during the Viet Nam War he became an apprentice with the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 81 and became a journeyman. He retired from Pipefitters Local 597 in January 2005. He was elected as a Public Official for the Village of Naplate where he served as Trustee in charge of Public Health and Safety. He also served as a volunteer Firefighter for the Village. He loved fishing in Wisconsin and spent six months of the year at his home in Mercer, Wisconsin where he entertained friends and family and showed them how musky fishing was done. He always said he was the # 1 musky fisherman, well, that's what he always said anyway. He loved the critters, birds, deer and black bears that would wonder in his backyard where he would freely video them to share with his friends and family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Delpho and Helen (Griglione) Mucci, and one brother Jack Griglione, his Grandparents, Eugene and Florence (Torri) Mucci and Babtista and Katherine (Shank) Griglione and many Aunts and Uncles. Jim was a loving Father, Grandfather, Brother, Uncle and friend to so many and he will be deeply missed by all. May God Bless his Memory. Memorials may be directed to the family.