John C. Ricci

RICCI, DERITIS

Posted By: Kathy Zobeck (email)
Date: 10/2/2007 at 10:37:14

John C. Ricci, 87 of West Liberty, formerly of Iowa City died Sunday, September 30, 2007, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, October 5, 2007, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City with the Reverend Dennis Martin officiating. Burial with military honors will be held at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7pm Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in John's memory to the Juvenile Diabetes Association or the American Kidney Foundation. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com.

John Carmen Ricci was born June 17, 1920, in Easton, PA the son of Caesar Ricci and Philomena Deities Ricci. Following graduation from high school in Easton High School in 1938 he served in the United States Army Air Corps during WWII. He attended and graduated from Lafayette University in Easton in 1949.On September 9, 1950, he married Nora Ames in Easton. He later married Juanita Smith December 29, 1976, in Iowa City. For many years he worked as a sales manufacturing representative for a number of companies including Sterling Steel, Scott Forge, and Reliable Machine Company. He went on to become the founder and owner of Bird & Bottle Screw Machine Company, Builders Wholesale, Rica Inc., and Liberty Anodizing.

He was member of various professional organizations, Zeta Chi Fraternity, the Elks Club, and active in Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the Elks Club in Iowa City. John enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and playing golf.

His family includes his wife, Juanita; son, David Ricci and his wife, Julie of Iowa City; daughter, Kitura Main and her husband, Robert of Bemidji, MN; five grandchildren, Daniel Ricci, Cassie Ricci, Hana, Lilly and Jackie Main; and four surviving siblings.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Nora in 1974; son John in 1976; and seven siblings.