Joseph R. Cera, 86, Stevens Point, died Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, at the Portage County Health Care Center in Stevens Point.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Peter Catholic Church in Stevens Point, with the Rev. Arul Joseph V. officiating. Burial will be in Guardian Angel Cemetery in Stevens Point, with full military honors.
Visitation will be at the church from 9 a.m. Monday until the Mass.
Pisarski/Dzikoski Funeral Home of Stevens Point assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be offered online at www.pisarskifuneralhome.com.
Mr. Cera was born April 24, 1926, in Stevens Point, a son of the late Joseph F. and Anna (Zinda) Cera. He attended St. Peter Grade School and P.J. Jacobs High School.
He was married to Evelyn Raschka on Oct. 16, 1948, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Stevens Point.
He entered the U.S. Navy on April 20, 1944, in Wausau, and attended boot camp at Great Lakes, Ill. His awards included the Bronze Star Medal, Asiatic-Pacific-Area Campaign Medal with two Battle Stars (for Iwo-Jima and Okinawa), American Campaign Medal, Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal (Japan) and the Combat Action Ribbon. He served aboard the U.S.S. Hinsdale. His honorable discharge, at the rank of seaman first class, took place on May 16, 1946, at Great Lakes, Ill.
Mr. Cera worked for Consolidated Papers-Wisconsin River Division, retiring in 1991 after 17 years with the company. He also did part-time bartending in the area for many years.
He was a member of the American Legion Post 6 Firing Squad, Catholic Order of Foresters-St. John’s Court No. 1807, 40 et 8 Portage County Voiture 831 and the Knights of Columbus Monsignor McGinley Council 1170.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Joan (John) Hulihan, Victorville, Calif., Annette (David) Scott, Wayzata, Minn., and Rachel Cera, Stevens Point; one son, Dennis (Jan), Muskego; three sisters, Janet Grubba, Stevens Point, Arlene Lorbeck, Racine, and Beverly Jasinski, New Jersey; 10 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by one daughter, Sandra Cera; one brother, Wayne; three sisters, Leona Thiel, Betty Kiefer and Ernestine Cera; and one great-granddaughter.
