Mario Marcketti

Mario Marcketti, 73, passed away on August 1st, 2016, at Sunnyview Nursing and Rehab in Ankeny. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on February 16th, 1943, the son of Mario A. Marcketti (immigrated from Italy) and Anne C. Johnson.

At the age of five, Mario’s parents had both died, and he moved to the north side living with his Aunt Ida in “Pigeonville.” Mario developed lifelong friends, but eventually dropped his childhood nickname of Gee-Gee.

Mario worked for Firestone for over 35 years. With a great sense of fairness and charm, Mario rose from tire builder to supervisor. He greatly enjoyed taking nieces, nephews, and eventually his own children to many games, circuses, and other events. The Oak Leafs and Capitols hockey teams, the Iowa Oaks and Cubs baseball teams, and the Drake Bulldog and Harlem Globetrotter basketball teams were among his favorites. In 1979, Mario, his brother-in-law Jon, and his sister-in-law Mickey began buying season tickets to Iowa Hawkeye football games during the first season of Hayden Fry’s tenure. Hawkeye football led to many happy fall afternoons spent with family over the next several years.

In summers, Mario’s orange Slickcraft ski boat was known throughout Clear Lake for his tireless pulling of his children and their friends as they waterskied. His sense of humor and fun attitude was witnessed by his love of many diverse pets. Over the years, these special friends included a spider monkey, a rooster and hens, rabbits, and many dogs, including grand-dogs. Mario also volunteered his time to work on a number of Democratic political campaigns. He was a long-time member, with wife Daisy, of Marquisville United Methodist Church.

Mario is survived by his wife of 54 years, Daisy; children, Mike (Sara) Marcketti and Julie (Deric) McLaren; grandchildren, Dylan, Abbie, Chase, McLaren and Drake, Clark and Cooper Marcketti; brother Bob Marcketti; his two brothers-in-law, Bill Miklus and Jon (Vickie) Miklus; sister-in-law Mary Miklus.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mario and Anne.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, August 5th, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, located at 121 NW 60th Ave in Des Moines, with burial to follow at Pine Hill Cemetery. The family will receive visitors on Thursday evening from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at the same location.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family in loving memory of Mario.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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