Manfred F. Cerasoli, age 77, of 7529 Clubhouse Drive (Lake Bluff); Gladstone, passed on Friday afternoon, February 3rd, 2006 following a long illness.
“Fritz”, as he was known by his relatives and friends, was born in Iron Mountain to Manfred and Delgia Cerasoli and attended school there. Immediately after graduation, he enlisted in the Marine Corps service where he was attached to a Marine Air Wing. Following his Marine Corps service, he attended college and graduated from Northern Michigan University (BA degree) and the University of Michigan (MA). He began his teaching career in Florence, WI for three years and then joined the faculty of the Escanaba Senior High where he retired in 1987 as “Director of Guidance.” In addition, for many years he was associated in partnership with his wife Maryann in the ownership of “World Wide Travel”.
Fritz was an avid reader and Chicago Cubs baseball fan. He loved to travel; particularly to Italy and Mexico and he also enjoyed fishing. He fished from as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as New Zealand, and many places in between.
He is survived by his wife, Maryann (nee Vecellio), whom he married in December 1949. Also surviving are a son, Steven (Debbie) Cerasoli, and grandchildren; Gina and Dominic of Kaukauna, WI and Anthony of Tempe, AZ; a son, John Cerasoli, and daughters Jessica and Jennifer of Richmond VA; son-in-law, Wolf-Rainer Behnke, and grandson, Peter, of Rapid River; a sister, Mary Ann Cerasoli, of Crestwood, IL and a special aunt, Dora Milbow, of Niagara, WI. He is also survived by in-laws; Lucy Vecellio Hawley of Lake Summerset, IL, and Oswald and Jo (Izzo) Vecellio of Port Charlotte, FL, and by nine nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Manfred was preceded in death by daughter, Jane Behnke, in 1992; in-laws, Florian and Mary Vecellio, and Dr. Philip L. Hawley.
Visitation will be held at the Skradski-Boyce Funeral Home, 118 S. 12th Street in Escanaba on Thursday afternoon from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. EDT. Parish Prayers will be recited at 6:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wells at 10:00 A.M. EDT on Friday with Rev. Rick Courier officiating. Guest organist will be John Ignotowski, former resident and friend of the Cerasoli family. Following lunch at the parish hall, interment will take place at 3:00 EST at the Norway Township Cemetery where his final resting place will be along side of his beloved daughter, Jane.
