John P. Valiga

Age 82, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, December 11, 2003. John was born in Phillips, Wisconsin on April 15, 1921, son of the late Andrew and Mary (Mindock) Valiga. He received his high school diploma from the Phillips High School, and as a young man, John served in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He left the CCC to serve in the Naval Air Corps during World War II. Upon his discharge in 1946, he returned to Phillips where he met and married the former Betty Furstenberg in Phillips in 1949; she survives. In 1952, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from River Falls State Teachers’ College and taught Agriculture and Industrial Arts in the Freedom School District for the next thirty years. John retired in May of 1983. He was a member of the Phillips, Wisconsin Post of the VFW, the Wisconsin Retired Educator’s Association, the Holy Name Society, was a former Scout Leader, and a PTA organizer. John was an avid sportsman who enjoyed fishing and hunting. He put his many skills to use and built his own home, cottage, and many buildings on his father’s farm.

John is survived by his wife: Betty Valiga of Freedom; four sons: Michael (Donna) Valiga of Iowa City, Iowa and their children Dan (Shannon) Valiga, Jeff Valiga, and Tracy Valiga; Richard (Linda) Valiga of Waukesha and their son Jason Valiga; Robert (Laurie) Valiga of Knoxville, Tennessee and their foster children Anthony, Rachel, and Taylor; James (Dorothy) Valiga of Highland, Wisconsin; a sister: Annie Watral of Phillips; two brothers: Joseph (Nancy) Valiga of Phillips and George (Alice) Valiga of Phillips; two brothers-in-law: Edward Furstenberg of Madison and James (Barbara) Furstenberg of Madison; a sister-in-law: Ruth Pohlod of Phillips; and a brother-in-law: Perce Patterson of Marshfield. John is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. John was preceded in death by his parents, a granddaughter Alee Valiga, two brothers-in-law Michael Watral and John Pohlod, and a sister-in-law Emily Patterson.

The funeral liturgy for John will be held at 12:00 Noon on Monday, December 15, 2003 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Freedom with Fr. Dennis Ryan officiating. Military memorial rites will be provided by the members of Freedom VFW Post #7692. Friends may call directly at the church on Monday from 10:00 AM until the hour of the service.

On Tuesday, December 16, a second liturgy will be held at 2:00 PM at Our Lady of the North Catholic Church (South Parish) in Phillips, with Fr. Gerald Hagen officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call directly at the church on Tuesday from 1:00 PM until the hour of the services.

FARGO FUNERAL HOME
400 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Kaukauna, Wisconsin 54130
920-766-6200