Ishpeming – Vito Vilona, age 88, longtime Ishpeming resident and more recently of 3475 N. Helen Lake Rd., Ishpeming, MI passed away on Monday, March 6, 2017 at his home of an apparent heart attack.

Vito was born September 26, 1928 in Simbario, Italy the son of the late Anthony and Teresa (Nardi) Vilona.  Vito grew up in Italy and had served for two years in the Italian Army in the early 1950's.  He married Jenny Galle in Italy on January 5, 1956 and they set out for America shortly after, residing in Bridgeton, NJ prior to moving to Ishpeming, MI in 1957.  Vito became an American Citizen in the mid 1990's.

Vito's first employment was with the Robbins Flooring Mill where he worked until 1966 when he became an employee for the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co.  He worked at the Mather "B", Tilden and Empire Mines retiring in 1992 as a shovel operator.  His first retirement was short lived and in 1993 he took a job with Holli Forest Products which spanned 20 years until his final retirement in 2013.  While at Holli Forest Products he was a caretaker of the yard.  One of his favorite "jobs" was the building of the bonfire for the annual ski jumping tournament at Suicide Hill.

Vito was a member of the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Ishpeming, and of the St. Rocco / St. Anthony Society for over 50 years.  He truly enjoyed tending to his vegetable gardens in the summer months; the fruits of his labor would be enjoyed by many at harvest time.  Vito liked the simple things in life – a game of cribbage, hunting for stump mushrooms, picking blueberries or strawberries, but he always had to be the first one to the fields when they opened, and supporting the Detroit Lions.  Time spent with family was most important to Vito, especially for the traditional Sunday Italian Dinners.

Survivors include 5 children – Tony (Nancy) Vilona of Negaunee, Theresa (Don) Johnson of Big Bay, Filomena (Craig) Wolf of Ishpeming, Vince (Kirsten) Vilona of DeWitt and Dominic (Shannon) Vilona of Ishpeming, his companion Cathy Gervasi of Ishpeming, 11 grandchildren – Jackson Vilona, Makayla Vilona, Jennifer Marietti, Tony Marietti, Jordan (Ryan) Wojie, Andrew (Samantha) Wolf, Michael (Alejandra Portillo) Vilona, Carolyn (Grant Karr) Vilona, Gina Vilona, Danielle Vilona and Brandon Vilona, 3 great grandchildren – Joshua and Talia Wojie and Zia Wolf along with many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his wife Jenny in 2013, 5 brothers – Bruno, Vincent, Frank, Salvatore and Joe and a sister Francesca.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 9:00am – 11:00am on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at the St John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Ishpeming.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am on Saturday at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with the Rev. Fr. Larry Van Damme to officiate.  Interment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery.  A luncheon will follow the services in the KD Hall.

Pallbearers will be Jackson Vilona, Tony Marietti, Andrew Wolf, Michael Vilona, Brandon Vilona and Ryan Wojie.

Vito's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.