Anthony “Tony” Venezia, 82, passed away at 10:58 p.m. on Thursday, October 24, 2024, in the emergency room at Alton Memorial Hospital. Tony was born January 12, 1942, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Harry and Antonette Venezia, who preceded him in death, his mother in July of 1949 and his father in March of 1950. His maternal grandmother, Nancy De Dominic, passed away on September 15, 1964. His maternal grandmother raised Tony and his brother Harry J. Venezia in Conschohocken, Pennsylvania for one year. Harry remained with his maternal grandmother until the age of 18 when Tony was discharged and they moved in with him until Harry graduated and joined the Army. Harry also preceded Tony in death on June 12, 2024, prior to his 77th birthday. Tony moved to live with his maternal aunt and uncle: Joseph and Mamie DiFlippo in Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, and Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, at age 8. They raised him from age 8 to 18. He graduated from Kennett Consolidated School in 1959. He joined the United States Air Force in November of 1959. Anthony was trained as a jet mechanic in Amarillo, Texas. During his four years of service, Tony served as a Jet Aircraft Mechanic and aircraft Crew Chief stationed in Amarillo and San Antonio, Texas, Misawa, Japan and Luke Air Force Base, Phoenix, Arizona. While in Japan, his planes flew from Thailand over Vietnam even prior to it being a legal war and qualified him to be a "Vietnam Era Veteran" even though he was not in the country in Vietnam but served the actions prior to the war being recognized by Congress, and it became an all-out war instead of a side action unknown to many until it escalated and America had soldiers on the ground in the country who qualified as actual Vietnam veterans.
After the Air Force, Tony worked for General Motors Corporation building Chevrolet, Pontiac and Buick cars for 18 months and John Hancock Life Insurance for two years as an insurance salesman. He moved to South Roxana, Illinois and went to work for McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in St. Louis, Missouri in January 1966 and remained with them as they progressed to McDonnell Douglas and the Boeing Company. Tony retired from Boeing Corporation in St. Louis in January of 2009 after 43 years of service as a Spacecraft Technical writer on Gemini, Gemini B and Space Lab programs and as a Manufacturing Engineer working on the actual manufacturing of the F4, F15, F18, DC10, space shuttle, Space station and Tacit Rainbow Harpoon, Slam, Slam-ER, Cruise Missile JDAM, Small Diameter Bomb and many proprietary (black ops) programs. He was a member and officer of the South Roxana Dads Club since 1966, a member of the South Roxana American Legion, Alton Eagles FOE #254 and Wood River Moose. Tony also was appointed and elected Trustee of South Roxana Village Board several times, working with several different Mayors. He also served on the Village Zoning Board of Appeals as chairman for several years and zoning administrator for the Village of South Roxana. Tony’s favorite pastime duties included working at the South Roxana Dads Club where he had been an active member since 1966. At the Dads Club, he started as a Trustee, then Financial Secretary, and later became the Treasurer, a position that he held for several years. He worked Bingo every week and eventually became the Bingo Chairman for many years, was the bar chairman, video gaming chairman, and bar manager. He also worked at mowing and maintaining the park and facilities with others and handled many of its bookkeeping and administrative duties. He also donated his time for the South Roxana Needy Family Fund and participated in the Annual Street Blockade to raise money for needy families for Christmas. Tony also worked at the Dads Club Fish Stand in the early years as a cook and moved to the poker stand and eventually as he got older, sold raffle tickets for the annual club raffle at the Homecoming. Tony handled the Homecoming advertisement for the last 25 years, which raised money to pay for the entertainment for the annual Homecoming. In addition to his other duties during the Homecomings, recently the Dads Club obtained a liquor license and ventured into Illinois video gaming to assist with raising money to fund the many college scholarships and needy family assistance that Dads Club was involved in. Tony was named the gaming and liquor manager in addition to his other duties as Bingo Chairman and Bookkeeper. To say that the Dads Club and its existence were one of his primary goals would be an understatement. Tony loved doing for others, working for the Dads Club and maintaining its stability and position in the community since its creation in 1948.
Tony learned how to ride motorcycles while in Japan and he enjoyed it for many years, even with a break from riding while raising his family. Once the children were on their own, he resumed his riding hobby. Tony loved riding his motorcycles with his wife and friends and running errands on his bike or later in life on his trike during the warmer months. He enjoyed the many long vacations on his motorcycle or trike during his lifetime across many states in this country that he loved, whether it be sightseeing on the road or visiting family and friends on the road or on the way to Pennsylvania to visit family on his motorcycle or trike.
Survivors include his wife: Linda G. (Bozarth) Venezia who he married in February of 2008, two daughters: Kelli A. Venezia (Lynny Dillman) of Summerfield, Illinois, Kristin Kleeschulte (Greg) of St. Peters, Missouri, two grandchildren: Caitlin Baughman (Kyle) of Edwardsville, Curtis Smay of Granite City, his step children: Gregory Perrin (Karen) and their son: Dillan of Millington, Tennessee, Keith Cain (Donna) of Alton, a sister in law: Donna Venezia, a niece: Valerie Ross (David) of New York, a nephew: Jason Venezia, a great nephew: Anthony Venezia, Jr. (Joyel), and a niece: Guiliana, all of Coatesville, Pennsylvania.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of funeral services at 12 p.m. on Friday, November 1, 2024, at Pitchford Funeral Home. Pastor Michael Flatt will officiate. Inurnment will follow at Wanda Cemetery in South Roxana with full military honors by the Ritual Team of VFW Post 1308 of Alton.
In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to the South Roxana Dads Club, P.O. Box 87218, South Roxana Illinois, 62087.
Online guestbook and information may be found at www.pitchfordfuneralhome.com.
