John is survived by his son, Mike Rossi; daughter Denise Rossi Jones; daughter Delinda Rathlein; son Jim Rossi; son Greg Rossi; son Paul Rossi; stepson Larry Clapp; stepson Rolley Clapp; stepdaughter Jewell Patricio; and many loving grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and extended family whom he all loved dearly.
He was preceded in death by his wife Jewell A. Rossi of 42 years; stepson Gary Clapp; his parents Enrico and Rosalie Rossi; brother Henry Rossi; and sister Lucille Governale.
John loved fishing, airplanes, and automobiles. He was an avid reader. His favorite topics of conversation were religion, politics, airplanes, and cars.
He spent many a weekend with family out on the water fishing, whether it was deep sea fishing or on a lake. He was also a fisher of men. He loved to share his love of God with others and encourage them in their faith life.
He loved airplanes. Making model airplanes, attending air shows, flying planes, and talking about them. As a boy, he used to go to the airfield near his home to be around the planes when he wasn’t working on his family’s produce farm. He once stowed away in the back of a small engine airplane to be able to fly. His dad had to drive quite a distance to go pick him up after the plane landed. He learned to fly before he graduated from high school. He was returning home from a model plane contest when the announcement came over the car radio that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. At 17, he enlisted in the Navy as a pilot. After the war, he combined his love of flying with his farm experience and spent several years in Mexico operating a crop dusting business.
John was very friendly and could easily talk with anyone. This served him well as the remainder of his career was spent in the automobile business. He worked in sales, management, and eventually owned and operated his own car businesses.
The things remembered most about John are his kindness, friendliness, and generosity, which he showed to everyone he dealt with, every day, every time.
The family will receive visitors from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., on Wednesday, December 14, 2016, at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks. The Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 A.M., on Thursday, December 15, 2016, at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, with interment to immediately follow at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park.
Memorial Contributions may be made in to https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org
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