Joseph Vecchio

Joseph Vecchio, 91, of Rockford passed away on Monday, July 4, 2011 in Rosewood Care Center. He was born July 29, 1919 in Rockford, the son of Vincent and Maria (Cavallaro) Vecchio, both from Sicily. Joe attended Barbour School and Roosevelt, graduated from Rockford Central high school in 1937, Rockford Business College graduate and attended the War College in Washington D.C. He worked for the Rockford Morning Star at the age of nine as a newspaper carrier and began a long career with the newspapers until 1971 as Circulation Manager and then Promotion manager. Assistant Circuit Clerk for the county of Winnebago starting in 1974 and retiring 28 years later. Began his career in the Army in 1941, entered WWII in the Army Air Core as a tail gunner and side gunner, flew in B-17's, transferred to infantry, served in the European Theatre from 1941-1945. Vecchio volunteered for the Korean War and remained in the Illinois National Guard until he retired as Colonel. He was the information officer for the State of Illinois during the Vietnam War and the riots during the 1968 Democratic Convention. He was a founding member of Memorial hall and the war memorial statue. Vecchio was in charge of the National Guard Armory for many years. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and St Anthony Church. Member of National Guard Association of Illinois, Northwest Community Center past president, Epilepsy Foundation, board of directors, Columbus Day Committee-past president, Elks Club-exalted ruler, 1968, Catholic War veterans, V.F.W., Retired Officers Association, Holy Name Society, St Mary's Society, United Fund, RVC Dislocated Workers Program, Italian American Hall of Fame, NI Circuit Clerk Assoc., Downtown Businessman's Assoc, Kiwanis and the Sierra Club.Survivors include his daughter, Judith Vecchio; grandsons, Joel, Jeffrey and Michael Burnett. Predeceased by his parents; wives, Jean (2005) and Gladys (2010 brothers, Roy, Sam, Frank and George; sisters, Venera and Nancy; brothers-in-law, Chris Balsam, Don Perkins; sister-in-law, Helen Vecchio. The family would like to thank Rosewood Care Center Nurses and OSF Hospice for their compassionate and exemplary care.Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:00am on Friday, July 8, 2011 in St Anthony Church with burial in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation from 5pm until 7pm on Thursday July 7, 2011 in Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd Rockford, IL 61108.