Joseph Cera

Cera, Joseph R.

Joseph R. Cera, 86, of Stevens Point, died Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, at the Portage County Health Care Center.

He was born on April 24, 1926, in Stevens Point, to the late Joseph F. and Anna (Zinda) Cera, and attended St. Peter's Grade School and P.J. Jacobs High School. On Oct. 16, 1948, he was married to Evelyn Raschka at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church.

Joseph entered the U.S. Navy on April 20, 1944, in Wausau, and attended boot camp at Great Lakes, Ill. His awards included the Bronze Star Medal, Asiatic-Pacific-Area Campaign Medal with two Battle Stars (for Iwo-Jima and Okinawa), American Campaign Medal, Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal (Japan) and the Combat Action Ribbon. He served aboard the U.S.S. Hinsdale. His honorable discharge, at the rank of Seaman First Class, took place on May 16, 1946, at Great Lakes, Ill.

He had worked for Consolidated Papers - Wisconsin River Division, retiring in 1991 after 17 years with the company. He also did part-time bartending in the area for many years.

Joseph was a Green Bay Packers fan who loved polka music and gardening. He had been a member of American Legion Post No. 6 Firing Squad, Catholic Order of Foresters - St. John's Court No. 1807, 40ET8 Portage County Voiture 831 and the Knights of Columbus Monsignor McGingley Council No. 1170.

Survivors include his wife, Evelyn of Stevens Point; daughters, Joan (John) Hulihan of Victorville, Calif., Annette (David) Scott of Wayzata, Minn., and Rachel Cera of Stevens Point; son, Dennis (Jan) Cera of Muskego; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Janet Grubba of Stevens Point, Arlene Lorbeck of Racine, and Beverly Jasinski of New Jersey.

In addition to his parents, Joseph was preceded in death by his daughter, Sandra Cera; great-granddaughter, Charlotte Larsen; brother, Wayne Cera; and sisters, Leona Thiel, Betty Kiefer and Ernestine Cera.

The Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, at St. Peter Catholic Church, in Stevens Point, with the Rev. Arul Joseph V. officiating. Burial, with full military honors, will follow in Guardian Angel Cemetery. Visitation will be in the Faustina Room of the church on Monday from 9 a.m. until the time for Mass. Pisarski/Dzikoski Funeral Home, Stevens Point, is assisting the family with arrangements. For online condolences, please visit www.pisarskifuneralhome.com. (715) 344-4595.