- Date Of Birth: November 30, 1913
- Date Of Death: July 11, 2016
- State: Illinois
Victor Bonucchi, 102, of Peru, went to his heavenly home Monday, July 11, 2016 at the Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle.
Mr. Bonucchi was born November 30, 1913 in Standard to Ricardo and Mary (Rosi) Bonucchi. He married Marilyn Arnolts on June 4, 1949 in St. Josephs Church in Peru. He was a graduate of Hopkins High School, L-P-O Junior College and the University of Illinois School of Civil Engineering. Victor loved tennis, gardening and cooking, but lived most of all for his family. Another big part of this life was helping kids in the community learn to enjoy and appreciate fishing. His enthusiasm for sports carried over into his support of his family in their participation of sports.
He served with the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion during World War II. He was with the United States Armada that invaded Okinawa Island on Easter Sunday, 1945. After Japan surrendered to the United States, he was detached from duty, November 1, 1945. He worked for the Wood River Oil and Refining Co. for three years in construction. He worked for the Illinois Department of Transportation for 28 years; six years at District 7 in Effingham and 22 years at District 3 in Ottawa. He was the Resident Engineer for the construction of the U.S. 51 bridge in Peru. He retired from IDOT on May 6, 1974.
He was the past president of Holy Rosary Church Catholic War Veterans Post 416 and the past treasurer for the Department of the State of Illinois Catholic War Veterans. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4668, LaSalle, American Legion Post 375, Peru, Peru Veterans Memorial Group, Standard Senior Citizen Achievement Center, State of Illinois Employees for 54 years, Illinois Association of Highway Engineers, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. He was a member of St. Marys Church, Peru where he was past president and treasurer of the Holy Name Society, board member of St. Marys Credit Union and was co-chairman for the financial drive to build a new grade school building for St. Marys School. He was past treasurer and board member for the Better Fishing Association of Northern Illinois. He was a past fishing instructor for the B.F.A. Expos at Baker Lake and assisted for many years for the B.F.A. Fishing Tournament at Lock 14, LaSalle.
Survivors include four children, Paula Atkinson of Peru, Laura Bonucchi of OFallon, Linda Senica of Peru and Richard (Sue) Bonucchi of Oxnard, CA; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and one sister, Lillian Bernardi of Granville.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marilyn on February 6, 2015 and two sisters, Irene Tack and Rose Skaloud.
Pallbearers will be Richard Bonucchi, John V. Senica, Chris Senica, John G. Senica, Zachary Atkinson, Stephen Hammers and Victor B. Bonucchi.
