Marathon Mourns Passing of John Tocheri

John Joseph Tocheri April 29, 1928 - April 5, 2012 Submitted photo

John Joseph Tocheri,age 83 years, passed away peacefully at home in Marathon on Thursday in Port Arthur, the second child of Gina and Alfred Tocheri. He graduated from Port Arthur Technical High School with a focus on industrial drafting in 1946 and began working with Marathon Pulp & Paper as a draftsman. In 1955, John married the love of his life, Agnes Haines, of Dorion. They bought a little house on McKibban Street and had twin boys, Bruce and Barry, in May of the next year, and a third son, Brian, five years later. In 1963, John was transferred to Marathon with American Can and retired in 1983. John was a very generous and giving person and very involved in his community. Shortly after moving to Marathon, he joined the Marathon Lions Club where he remained a member until this day. He served in various capacities including President, but was most proud of being the Easter Seals Chairman and helping raise and distribute tens of thousands of dollars to needy families in Marathon, Pic River and neighbouring communities on behalf of the Lions Club. In 1990, the International Association of Lions Clubs granted John a Life Membership. John was an avid curler and spent many years volunteering at the club and serving on its executive. On his 65th birthday, his team awarded John a styrofoam rock as a constant reminder of his light takeouts. The Club honoured John with a Life Membership for his dedication. John also served for many years in numerous capacities, including President, for other organizations, including Marathon Minor Hockey, the Marathon & District Chamber of Commerce and Marathon Rotary Club. John was a Third Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus and a devout member of Holy Saviour Parish. He also greatly enjoyed serving for many years as Marathon’s Christmas Parade Grand Marshall.

John was devoted to his family. As a family, they enjoyed camping, holiday get-togethers and travelling. During many summers, John and Agnes would load up the boys and the little tent trailer and embark on adventures that spanned from Prince Edward Island to British Columbia to California and many points in between. But summers at the cottage on Loon Lake were what John most looked forward to. This was a place where John and Agnes “got away” but were always happy when family and friends popped in for short or extended visits. John volunteered on the East Loon Campers Association in various capacities over the years and greatly enjoyed his nightly saunas and weekly poker nights with the boys.

Always entrepreneurial, John owned and operated several businesses throughout the years, including Marathon Insurance and Marathon Travel. He was also an avid sports fan and played football and hockey as a youth, and golf in his later years. John was an accomplished horseshoe pitcher and boche player winning numerous awards participating in the Senior Games. John would watch anything that resembled sports, but most enjoyed watching golf, the Detroit Red Wings, New York Yankees and Kentucky Derby.

Following retirement, John and Agnes pursued their passion of travel. They cruised the Carribean, Mediterranean, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, visited Australia, New Zealand, China, South America, many European countries and spent their winters in Florida. Along the way, they had many great experiences and met many people who remain close friends today.

John is predeceased by his parents, Alfred in 1951 and Gina in 1995. John is survived by his wife, Agnes, of 57 years, sons Bruce (Susan) of Thunder Bay, Barry of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Brian (Janice) of Marathon, grandchildren Angela, Aaron, Whitney, Byron, Forrest, Samantha, Dylan and Lauren, sisters Rose Freeborn (Ray) of California, and Anne Savas (Jim) of Scarborough and brother Fred (June) of Oakville, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to thank Drs. Barb Zelek and Megan Brunskill, the nursing staff of Wilson Memorial Hospital, Kathy Weller and the staff of CCAC,and Dr. Doris Secheri of TBRHSC, for their care and compassion over the past few years. We also wish to thank John’s numerous friends for all the phone calls, visits and support, Father Milton McWatch and Malieu Guttierez for their services and prompt responses. Cremation has taken place and family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of John’s life on Saturday, April 14 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Saviour Church in Marathon. Internment at Riverside Cemetery will take place at a later date. Should friends or family desire, donations to Wilson Memorial Hospital, Marathon Humane Society, Holy Saviour Church, the Northern Cancer Fund or Heart and Stroke Foundation, in John’s memory, would be greatly appreciated. John would also want you to take a few hours and volunteer for a worthy cause in your community.

On-line condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com.

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