John Vukovics

John Vukovics was born May 2,1936 in Minihof, Austria to Elisabeth and Frank Vukovics. He immigrated to the United States in March of 1937, prior to the German occupation of Austria.

John grew up in Chicago along with his siblings, Frank, Betty, Tommy, and Paul. He attended Our Lady of Mercy in Chicago, where he developed a devotion to the Blessed Mother. He often talked about attending Our Lady of Mercy school and his love for Mary.

He raised two sons in Chicago in which he instilled values of hard-work, dedication, and the value of a good education. He and Pauline often took them on trips camping. John worked as a janitor in Chicago and was a pillar of the community. He often brought his sons along with him as he made his rounds. On one occasion he saved a woman and her child from a fire in their building. Once his family moved to the suburbs, he began working for the Chicago Transit Authority as a large motor electrician.

He later enjoyed twenty years of retirement with his brother, Tommy, and sister, Betty, in Las Vegas. John was also a grandfather and enjoyed many trips visiting his grandchildren, Elizabeth, Katie, Lauren, Brendan, and Claire. He later moved to Baton Rouge to live with his son, John, and daughter-in-law, Marie. While living in Baton Rouge, he enjoyed participating in parish life at their church, also named Our Lady of Mercy. Our Lady truly followed him wherever he went. While in Baton Rouge he witnessed the marriage of his eldest granddaughter, Elizabeth, to her husband Antonio. He was thrilled to be a great grandpa in the last few months of his life to his great-granddaughter, Lucy. During his final years he also made trips to St. Paul, Minnesota, to visit his son, Tony, daughter-in-law, Joanne, and grandchildren, Brendan and Claire. He also enjoyed cheering on the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, and Notre Dame, although he would cheer for LSU as well.

John will be remembered by those who knew him as friendly and good-humored. He befriended and conversed with everyone he met. He always cried when he heard the Ave Maria. He will be remembered for the little songs he sang around the house, his endless baseball hat collection, and asking his grandchildren if they wanted a puff of his cigar. He was a generous, kind, and loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed.

John was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Elisabeth, his younger sister, Betty Stoecker, and his younger brother, Frank Vukovics. John is survived by his two sons and their spouses: John & Marie Vukovics and Anthony Vukovics & Joanne Donnalley; his five grandchildren: Elizabeth Mistretta (married to Antonio Mistretta), Katherine Vukovics, Lauren Vukovics, Brendan Vukovics, and Claire Vukovics, his great granddaughter: Lucy Mistretta, and his siblings: Tommy & Paul.

Family and friends are invited to a Visitation on Sunday, October 5, from 2 pm to 6 pm at Rabenhorst Funeral Home at 825 Government Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, October 6, at 10 am, at Our Lady of Mercy on 445 Marquette Avenue by Fr. Miles Walsh.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable contribution to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.