Paul Ross Pescetto

Paul Ross Pescetto, 84, of Peru passed away on October 11, 2024 at home peacefully surrounded by his family after extended illness. 

Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Friday October 18 at Oglesby Union Church with Pastor Bill Jacobsen and Pastor Lloyd Johnson officiating. Visitation will be 5-8:00 PM Thursday October 17 at Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle. Additional visitation will be in the church on Friday from 10:00 AM until time of services. A luncheon of “Celebration not Sorrow” will follow his service per his request at the Paramount Club in La Salle.

Paul was born June 9, 1940 in Peru to Paul and Lola Pescetto.  He married the love of his life Patricia (Stefko) on August 22, 1964 at Holy Trinity Church in Cherry. They lived in their family home in Peru their entire life.

Paul graduated from La Salle-Peru Township High School in 1958 and continued his education at Western Illinois University. He went on to earn his Masters degree in counseling from Illinois State University. He started his career in education by teaching and coaching; at Waltham grade school, Holy family in Oglesby,  and teaching at both LP and St. Bede,  Counseling for La Salle Education Alliance of Special Education (LEASE) at Circuit Breaker School in Seneca and Illinois Valley Community College, and Dislocated Workers Program for many years until his retirement. 

Paul’s longtime coaching career started off at Waltham Grade School  and with his children in Peru Boys baseball Little League, Senior and Big league.  From there he went on to coach  freshman boys basketball, St. Bede sophomore boys baseball, and lastly Newark HS boys basketball. He inspired many students and athletes to be the best they could be, To use their ability to the fullest, always stressing on to what is most important: making good choices to become a better person in life. His motto was “in Life, there are two roads, Take the right path and good things will happen”. 

Paul also expanded his love of sports by owning Athletes Choice Sporting goods store in downtown Lasalle for many years and enjoyed talking sports and helping area youth and their parents at his store. He also owned Good Times Lounge/bar downtown Lasalle and enjoyed having live bands on weekends.  

His hobbies consisted of fishing, going out to his place at Woodhaven Lakes. He loved Wrigley field and going with family and friends to Cubs games.  He never missed watching them. He also enjoyed participating in area flea markets and neighborhood garage sales which he always recruited his wife, children, grandchildren, or family members to help. He also loved listening to music especially “the oldies” and watching and attending many concerts over the years.  

Since his childhood there was never a doubt on his sports teams. He was always a devoted and loyal fan of Cubs, Bears, Bulls and Fighting Illini and he could talk sports both local, college, and professional with any. He would make it the main topic of discussion with his kids and grandkids all the time and made it friendly banter amongst family and friends as well. He was a Cubs season ticket holder and tickets remain in the family today. Some of his greatest moments in life were watching the Cubs win it all in 2016, meeting his all time favorite Cub Ron Santo at his many trips and extended stays to visit his daughter in Arizona for Cubs Spring training and the story of “his midnight phone call from Ron Santo” to talk sports with him became one of his cherished stories to tell in recent years.  

Paul’s greatest joy in life however was his wife, his 4 children and being “Poppy” to his 5 grandchildren, who he referred to as they are the “apple of my eye" and was always telling them how he was “so super proud” of them  and always enjoyed watching them play all their sports and activities. 

Paul was a true character and cherished his longtime childhood friendship and neighbor Marius Derango. The two always shared a special bond in telling many stories of trips and sharing memories from over the years that would ultimately ensue in laughter to no end. 

Paul became closer to the Lord and developed a relationship with Him in his final months.

Survivors include his sister Camilla Boston, Cousins Carol (Roger) Vulcani, Clarence ( Suzie ) Mrowicki, his 3 sons, Paul (Wendy) Pescetto of Twin Lakes WI, Steven (Tracy) Pescetto of Yorkville and Scott (Rachel) Pescetto of Oglesby, and one daughter Amy (Ron) Copeland of Oglesby; five grandchildren, Kylee Copeland, Jack and Anthony Pescetto, Zachary and April Pescetto and many cousins and wonderful nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Paul and Lola; his dear wife of 58 years Patricia; in-laws Joseph (Doris) Stefko; Marge (Jerry) Martinkus; Lynn (Ron) Raef; Joseph Stefko; Harold Boston; his special Aunt and Uncle Clarence “Sheba” (Annie) Mrowicki.

The family would also like to thank his wonderful caregivers Lina, Alice, and Bobbie for helping to care for our dad at various times over the past couple years and neighbors that looked out for him as well and to thank OSF Saint Elizabeth -Ottawa 4th floor nursing staff for your care and compassion for him and our family, as well as the OSF hospice team.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Jude Foundation or Ron Santo Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Paul wanted to help children in any way he could to prevail in life!

Pallbearers will be his grandchildren and Marius Derango.

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