Obituary of John Joseph Lucenta, Jr
John Joseph Lucenta Jr.
John Joseph Lucenta Jr., passed away peacefully, at Edward Hospital in Naperville, at the age of 76, on Thursday, February 9, 2023, surrounded by his loving and devoted family. John was born on April 22, 1946, to the late Margaret T. (Pilar) and John Joseph Lucenta Sr. He attended Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Grade School and graduated with the Class of 1964 from Joliet Catholic High. He received a Bachelor's Degree in Science from Lewis College, where he was a pitcher on the baseball team from 1964-1968 and was the recipient of the Father Aquinas Colgan Award.
John retired from the family business, Lucenta Tire, which served the Joliet community for over 75 years. He was a member of the Kiwanis club, and a past president of both the Illinois-Indiana State Tire Dealers association and UNICO.
Baseball was a big part of John’s life. He was a NAIA All American in 1966 while at Lewis and was inducted into the University’s Hall of Fame in 1981. In 1968 he played for the United States Olympic Baseball team in Mexico City and brought home the gold. Some of John’s memorable moments included pitching against the 1984 Olympic baseball team where he struck out Mark McGwire. John was also called up by the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds to pitch for them, but he threw side-arm which was considered unorthodox at that time. It is impressive with that style of delivery that he played 21 seasons of semi-pro ball for the Midlothian White Sox and continued to play baseball until the age of 73 across the US.
Although he was proud of his accomplishments on the “field” there was nothing he was more passionate about than his family. His passing leaves a huge void, but his legacy of love, honor, courage, and respect will live on in the hearts of his loved ones.
John is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Lorraine A. (nee Filetti) Lucenta; his children, Christine (Kenny Stump) Lucenta, Jacqueline (Michael) Jerman, Michelle (Scott) Bohn, and John (Diane) Lucenta III; grandchildren, Ashley, Michaelene and Dakota Jerman; Justin and Alexander John Bohn; great-grandchildren, Lily and Mila (Jerman) Weiden; and his sister, Rosemary (Francis) Markun. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
In addition to his parents, John is also preceded in death by his grandchildren, Baby T Jerman and Madison Ann Bohn; as well as his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Frances and Lorenzo Filetti.
Visitation for John Jospeh Lucenta Jr. will be held on Monday, February 20, 2023, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Rd. (at Essington Rd.), Joliet. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at 9:30 a.m., from the funeral home to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 18 Woodlawn Ave., Joliet, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park II.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in John’s name to Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care, 250 Water Stone Circle, Joliet, IL 60431.
For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit his Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com where you can leave an online condolence or share a favorite memory.
