John Marinelli

John Marinelli, age 61, of Woodstock, Georgia, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his wife and children on Wednesday, March 16, 2022.

A native of Chicago, Illinois, John grew up in Chicago Heights and attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School where he met the love of his life and soul mate, Debbie Curran at the age of 14. John and Debbie married in 1982 and enjoyed every minute of their amazing 47 years together. In their early years of marriage, John and Debbie enjoyed spending time with lifelong friends and beginning their careers.

John loved what he did for a living, working in sales for the Industrial Controls industry throughout his career. After many years with Honeywell, he spent the last 8 years with AWC Inc, and could not have asked for a better a company and group of people to spend his days with.

John’s greatest joy was his family, and he and Debbie welcomed three wonderful children into the world in 1985 (Lisa), 1987 (Joey), and 1990 (Andy). While their children were young, John and Debbie loved spending weekends on their boat with family and friends in New Buffalo, Michigan, introducing their children to the world of sports, and simply spending time together in their homes in Chicago Heights and Steger, IL.

The family relocated to Woodstock, Georgia in 1996 where they raised their children into adulthood in the Towne Lake area. John’s pride for his children was second to none. He was the most generous, supportive and loving father, never missing a practice, game or chance to take his kids on an impromptu lunch date.

John and Debbie loved opening their home to any and everyone, creating the most wonderful lifelong relationships with the people they’ve met along the way. John was famous for his massive spreads that could feed 50 and was the ultimate grill master. He loved spending time on the golf course with his boys and remained the ultimate Chicago sports fan through the years, flying his W flag after every Cubs win.

John was thrilled to welcome his children’s spouses into his family, but nothing gave him more joy than the day he received the best nickname of his life, “Grandpa”. John and Debbie have 9 beautiful grandchildren, most notably all 8 and under with a mix of 2 girls and 7 boys. To say John’s grandchildren were the apple of his eye would be the understatement of the century. John loved his grandchildren so fiercely and spent his days contemplating the ways he could ensure they were spoiled rotten. The past eight years have been filled with Saturday morning donut deliveries, back to school clothes shopping, quiet mornings watching Mickey Mouse, trips to the sporting goods store to make sure his grands were outfitted with the best of the best and a whole lot of “I love you Grandpa’s”. Like with his children, John never missed an event for his grandchildren and loved watching them in dance, gymnastics, baseball and basketball.

John was loved by so many and will be missed dearly, he was wise, thoughtful and incredibly witty – his one liners were some of the best.

John is preceded in death by his parents, Jack Marinelli and Kathleen Brannigan Marinelli. His legacy will continue through his wife, Deborah Curran Marinelli; children, Lisa Marinelli Wingard (Casey), Joey Marinelli (Katie) and Andy Marinelli (Carli); grandchildren, Charlotte (8), Graham (6), Will (3), Ryan (3), Quinn (5), Oliver (3), John Jackson (8 months), Riley (5) and Brooks (2); siblings, Cathy Marinelli Hirschauer (Leigh), Gayle Miller (Mike) and Teri Marinelli (Kelly O’Brien); and other extended family members and friends.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, March 20, 2022 from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Woodstock Funeral Home. Celebration of life services will be held at 2:00 PM in the Reece Memorial Chapel with Pastor Barry Lancaster officiating. Services will be livestreamed through Facebook Live (please click on “Join Livestream” button under Services). A reception will follow immediately at The Tavern at Towne Lake (1003 Towne Lake Hills E, Woodstock, GA, 30189).

Please share a memory or your condolence with the Marinelli family at www.woodstockfuneralhome.com.

Services have been entrusted into the care of Woodstock Funeral Home, 8855 Main Street, Woodstock, Georgia 30188.