Eugene F. Tomassucci

Eugene “Gene” F. Tomassucci, 82, of Iron River, Mich., died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Mich., after a long illness that challenged his strength, but never sapped his spirit. He passed peacefully in the evening with his son, Brad, at his side. He was born on Nov. 10, 1935, in Iron Mountain to Emilio and Esther (Rocconi) Tomassucci. He attended Iron River Schools. Gene married Carole Tarsi on Oct. 22, 1960, at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Iron River. She preceded him in death on April 16, 2001. Gene graduated from Iron River High School in 1955 and left behind a football legend that lives to this day. He was a first-team all-state tackle for the Iron River Redskins, and various newspaper stories around the state described him as “Iron River’s great tackle” and “Iron River’s giant tackle.” He was both, and it resulted in Gene being selected as a high school All American and a top recruit for the Michigan State Spartans. His greatness on the gridiron became generational. His son, Brad, and Brad’s son, Nick, also were first-team Michigan all-state selections in high school. Gene enlisted in the United States Army in 1957. He was a sharpshooter and earned the Good Conduct Medal after serving for two years in Europe. While there, he spent time with his father in Colbasano, Italy, the village where Emilio was born and raised. Gene still has family there and his daughter, Lisa, corresponds with them regularly. While in Europe, Gene was a mainstay on the Army’s traveling football team, which played exhibitions throughout the continent. He starred as a lineman, but suffered a severe knee injury that put him in a Frankfurt, Germany, hospital for two weeks. The injury did not prevent him from playing semi-professional football with the Iron County Steelers when he returned to the United States. One memorable newspaper headline after the Steelers’ first loss of the season read, “Tomassucci loses first game.” Back home in his beloved Upper Peninsula, Gene married Carole and they settled in Iron River, where they raised their family. Gene began work as a butcher for Angeli’s Super Valu and remained there for many years. He and Carole bought the Golas Brothers Grocery Store on Fourth Avenue in 1978, and operated it as Gene’s One Stop & Shop. Their grocery evolved into Tomassucci’s Italian Deli, which featured homemade dishes and unforgettable smells. Gene’s sub sandwiches were legendary. They were well-known as one of the area’s finest caterers. Much changed in April 2001, when Carole died unexpectedly. Gene was hospitalized at the time and subsequently retired. After Carole’s death, Gene tackled a myriad of health problems head-on and beat them all until his final days. His bravery will remain an inspiration to everyone who knew him. He spent much time among friends at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, but was also able to live independently at home, thanks to the care and counsel of his son, Brad, whose selfless dedication to his father’s well-being was remarkable. Gene was an Army sharpshooter, but he learned how to handle a firearm as a teenager in the U.P. under the guidance of his dear friend, Elio Argentati. He loved the outdoors, bagged numerous bucks over the years and treated his black Labs – all named Shadow – to memorable duck hunts that brought smiles to his face years later. Gene’s passion for the outdoors informed much of his life. His camp on the South Branch of the Paint River in the Ottawa National Forest will remain a gathering spot for his family for generations. It’s a beautiful setting for a traditional U.P. camp, where Gene fed his friends and family brook trout from the nearby river, venison and, of course, a variety of Italian dishes. He would also come to feed a big, beautiful doe he named Sweetheart, who would bring her fawns to camp for many meals Gene and Elio set out. As Gene’s health declined, his quality of life endured, thanks, in part, to the staff at the VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain and the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee. His family is forever thankful for the quality of care Gene received at both facilities, particularly in Iron Mountain where Steve Gartland was his longtime wound-care specialist. Gene looked forward to those visits and understood his good fortune that gifted specialists like Steve were responsible for his care. Gene also took great comfort, as did his family, in his loving relationship with Bonnie Puskala. She was the perfect person at the perfect time in his life and contributed greatly to his happiness, even as his health declined. Gene lived a full, rewarding life to the end. Two days before he passed, his children, grandchildren and friends joined him in Iron Mountain, where he cooked yet another batch of spaghetti sauce and drank homemade wine. There were toasts, stories and expressions of love that reminded his family they will be together again in the comfort of Christ. Gene is survived by his son, Brad (Tammy) Tomassucci of Iron Mountain; daughter Lisa (Bruce) Heisel of Clinton, Wis.; four grandchildren, Christopher, Nicholas (Caitie) and Emilia Tomassucci and Dana Heisel; very special friend, Bonnie Puskala of Iron River; special cousin, John Pucci; devoted friends and neighbors, Rosemary and Terry Tarsi and Diana VanLanen; dear friends, Bob and Ruth Possanza; nieces, nephews and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Joyce Nunn, and his wife of 40 years, Carole. Visitation will be held on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home in Iron River. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Iron River with the Rev. Gregory Veneklase to offer the Mass of Christian Burial. The West Side Veterans will accord Military Rites at the service. A spring interment will be in Resthaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Oscar G. Johnson VAMC Hospice Program by making checks payable to OGJVAMC and denoting Hospice in the memo. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eugene F. Tomassucci, please visit our flower store.