Mr. Anthony Mucci Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Anthony Mucci ("Tony"), age 85, went home to God on November 8, 2015 surrounded by his family at his home in San Marcos, California. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 25, 1930, the youngest of seven, to Antonio and Concetta Mucci. Tony joined the Marine Corps at the age of 19, where he served with pride for 27 years. He married the love of his life, Elaine Rogers, in 1959, and they raised three daughters, Beverly Beltramo (Mark), Nancy Gruning (Rob), and Carolyn Grassmick (Jim). He is survived by seven grandchildren, Joshua Gruning (Katie), Anna Human (Eric), Matthew Gruning (Vida), Katherine Shumacher (Ryan), Jessica Grassmick, Jacob Grassmick, Brenna Beltramo, and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three of his siblings, Vickie Mucci, Michael Mucci, and Antoinette ("Toni") Miller and nieces and nephews too numerous to count. During his time in the Marines, Tony served as a member of the Marine Corps pistol team. His was Distinguished in both rifle and pistol. A highlight of his shooting career was receiving the Lochheimer bronze medal, an honor he earned three times.The Lochheimer is the highest award for combined rifle and pistol in the Marine Corps. His skill as a marksman was testified to by the wall of ribbons and medalsin the garage (many of which he would give away to the neighborhood children). Although he had enlisted as a private, he was invited to attend Officer Candidate School, and in 1960, received his Warrant Officer bars. During his time in the Marine Corps, he served as an embassy guard in Seoul, Korea near the end of the Korean war, and served two tours in Vietnam, the first in 1964, and the second in 1969. He retired to Southern California and vowed never ever to go back to the cold and snow—a vow he nearly kept until a daughter in Buffalo needed help. After driving out in the fall, he and Elaine found themselves stuck there for a very long and very cold winter. Tony built his life on three pillars: his faith, his family, and service. A member of St Francis Parish for more than 40 years, his faith was reflected in his life. He lived quietly, always the one to stop to help when help was needed, always behind the scenes, caring for those who needed his help, always with a ready "yes." He was a devoted husband, son, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He could not be with his own parents for most of his adult life, but brought his mother-in-law in to live with them, caring for her with great love the last ten years of her life, much of which left her bed-bound. He was a ready babysitter, a listening ear, and handy man extraordinaire. Leisure was a foreign concept to him, he could never be found sitting idle, or even engaged in sports or games—he was happiest when he had a purpose, sometimes this meant wearing out his sons in law during his visits, making sure their homes were safe and taking on all the little maintenance tasks that needed to be done, but that no one found the time to do. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you honor Tony's life by offering a prayer or Mass, by a donation in his name to a charity close to your own heart, or with a random act of kindness. Arrangements through Allen Bros funeral home of Vista, funeral Mass at St. Francis Catholic Church, Thursday, November 12 at 1pm, preceded by a Rosary in the church at 1230pm.