John A. Marinoni

Friday, Jun. 10, 2016

John A. Marinoni, 103, died May 29, 2016, surrounded by his family. John was a remarkable centenarian who made a difference in the lives of everyone he knew. He was a brilliant man with an analytical mind that was still fast at work until his passing.

John was born Dec. 3, 1912, in Rovetta, Italy to Andrew and Margherita Stabilini Marinoni.  

He immigrated to the United States at age 6. He came on the ship Giuseppe Verdi from Genoa to Ellis Island. From New York his family took the train to Idaho to join his father and uncle. 

At age 19 he started working in the mines in Utah; at 21, he moved to the Black Hills of South Dakota and began working in a gold mine. On Nov. 5, 1935 he married Annie Caserio in Lead, S.D. She passed away in 2004.

During World War II, he moved to Bremerton, Wash., where he worked as a welder, fixing war ships for the Navy while going to school at night to earn his high school diploma and safety engineering degree.

After WWII, John moved back to Price to work in the family-owned Soldier Creek Coal Mine with his parents and siblings. In 1974, the Marinonis sold the mine. John then joined his best friend, Bert Prichard, in a salvage yard, where he invented many items. 

In retirement, John loved to garden and work in his shop. A gifted welder and craftsman, he created countless items, including chairs, end tables and step stools. 

John was honored in 2005 by the National Mining Hall of Fame with a Lifetime Legacy Award. He was a member of Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church, Price Elks Lodge and the Italian Lodge.  

He is survived by daughters Charlene (Paul) Dupin, Price and Judy Cobb, Las Vegas; grandchildren Paula (Paul) Dupin-Zahn, Kaysville; Pamela (Shane) Dupin-Bryant, Stansbury Park; Joshua (Stacey) Leavitt, and Jan (Ivan) Farris, Las Vegas; great-grandchildren Candace, Courtney, Patrick, Kendel, Samantha, Phillip, Zane and Preston; brother-in-law Clifford (Maxine) Caserio, Lead, S.D.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two infant daughters, great-grandson Ethan Leavitt, son-in-law Jim Cobb, and brothers and sisters Clem and Joe Marinoni, Ancilla Marchino and Aurelia Cooley.

A funeral Mass was celebrated at Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church. The family would like to thank Pinnacle Nursing Facility, Symbii, Madeline and John for their loving care of Johnny.