Anthony J. Vania

Anthony J. Vania, 95, went on to be with the Lord on Sept. 18, 2017. He was born June 24, 1922, in Milwaukee, WI. Tony, or Joe, as some called him, graduated from Algoma High School in 1941. He went to cooks and bakers school and served his country as a cook on a ship in the East Indies during the Second World War. After his military service, Tony painted buildings, including St. Mary's Church steeple. He also raised mink, tried his hand at being an auctioneer and worked for Algoma Plywood for a few years. For the majority of his life, Tony worked for Palmer Johnson boat works during their “heyday”. He's the one who put the finish on their beautiful Yachts. Tony also painted his father-in-law's fishing boat, The Margaret, for several years. On January 7, 1947, he married Beatrice Mary Schmidt and was married to her for 62 years. Together, they built their home, planted gardens, trees, raised five children and a bunch of chickens and gave the family just about every pet they wanted. Tony also enjoyed iceboating, sailing, ice-skating, roller-skating, drawing, motorcycling and his remote control tugboat. He once entered it in a remote control airplane contest…and won! Tony dearly loved the Lord, reading his Bible and reading nightly Bible stories to his kids, playing Christian music and going to church.

He is survived by five children, Rose Ann Bury, Susan M. Vania, Carol J. Krauss, Daniel D. Vania and Leo T. Vania; 20 grandchildren, Sharon LeMere, Roxanne Bury, Nathanael Bury, Noah, Hanna Lee, Isaac, Josie, Faith, Jeremiah, Ava, and Olivia Vania, Sofie Duerst, Dylan, William, Samual, Gabriel, Grace, Theodore, Avery, and Ben Vania; plus four great-grandchildren, Joey and Cooper LeMere, and Evelyn and Estelle Duerst.

Tony was preceded in death by his wife, Bede; parents, Peter and Anna Vania; sister, Magdalen Server; and brother, Roman Vania.

Visitation at Calvary Assembly of God, 916 Feld St, Algoma, WI on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, from 3:30 PM until the time of the service. Memorial service 4:30 PM, Friday, Sept. 29th at the church with full military honors following.

The family would like to thank Jenny Pavlat, manager at Bay Road Place assisted living, the staff and the man who built it and owned it when my dad first went there, and to those who worked there in the past, for their consistent, constant care and concern and for putting up with his naughty daddy stunts! And we also want to thank Unity Hospice for all of their care and for keeping me (Rose Ann) posted; to all those who visited him, especially Pat, the weekly volunteer from hospice who spent time talking with him and reading to him. Also, thanks to Pastor Ken Taylor, who visited him regularly. But most of all we would like to thank Jesus, who went to the cross to shed His blood so that we all could go to heaven and be together again.