Joseph W. Digiovanni

Joseph W. DiGiovanni, 69, of Rockford, passed away on Thursday, May 29, 2008 at his home. Born on January 13, 1939; the son of Vito and Bernice DiGiovanni. Joseph spent his entire life in the Rock River Valley except when he was in the U.S. Marine Corps for two years in the 1950s. He married Patricia Lee Wold on August 28, 1960. They lived in Roscoe for most of their adult lives. She preceded him in death on October 24, 2001. He graduated from West High School in 1956. He was an all-state football player at West and was a member of the 1955 state championship basketball team. He coached youth basketball and football for about 30 years at St. Anthonys, for the Boys Club and at West Middle School. He then started the Roscoe Lions youth football program in the 1980s. Joseph worked as a postal carrier, manager at Wonder Bread and was the owner/operator of the Kishwaukee Tap until retiring in 1994. He is survived by his children; Joseph J. (Stephanie) DiGiovanni of Milwaukee, Ann-Drea M. (Daniel) Burns of Grand Rapids, MI; step-son, Thomas (Etsuko) Dobel of Oklahoma City, OK; grandchildren, Joseph E. and Genevieve DiGiovani of Milwaukee, Daniel and Louis Burns of Grand Rapids, MI, Sayaka and Donald Dobel of Oklahoma City, OK; sister, Loretta (Floyd) Berg of Rockford; brothers, Thomas (Barbara), Donald (Kathy) and Vito DiGiovanni all of Rockford; cousin, Marilyn Nonenmacher of Metairie, LA; special friend, Sharon Sherer of Rockford. He will miss all his friends especially, Nick Mangiaracina, Ben Nuccio, Vince Ingrassia and George Cotone. Predeceased by his parents and wife. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00am Monday, June 2, 2008 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church with Franciscan Friars officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 1-3pm at Fitzgerald Funeral Home amp; Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. Rockford, IL 61108 and also from 9-9:45am Monday at the church. Entombment in Sunset Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. To express condolences online to the family please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com