OBITUARY FROM REES FUNERAL HOME WEBSITE:
James Santacroce, 92, passed away peacefully on September 8, 2026.
Born on Friday, October 13, 1933, in McCool, Indiana, James was the son of Nunzio and Lucia Santacroce. He attended St. Bridget's Elementary School and graduated from Hobart High School in 1951.
On November 4, 1954, James married Peggy Cooper, the love of his life and devoted partner. Together they built a family centered on love, hard work, and lasting traditions.
In 1955, James was drafted into the United States Army and proudly served his country for two years at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. During his military service, he learned the trade of meat cutting, a skill that became his lifelong profession. James dedicated 49 years to his work as a meat cutter before retiring at the age of 72.
James and Peggy were blessed with five children: Tina, Rick, Jim, Ron, and Rob. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who found his greatest joy in spending time with his family.
Following retirement, James embraced life's adventures through travel, taking great pride in exploring the world and reconnecting with his Italian heritage. He was a gifted storyteller who loved sharing memories of his childhood, including digging graves alongside his father, fishing in the local creek, and working on projects in his garage. He was known for his appreciation of a good pie, his fond recollections of Peggy's cooking, and his insistence that every meal required a spoon.
James was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Peggy Santacroce; his parents, Nunzio and Lucia Santacroce; his siblings, Francis, Mary, Rosie, Erma, Anita, and Anna; his son-in-law, Dan; and many cherished friends.
He is survived by his children, Tina, Rick, Jim (Jackie), Ron, and Robert (Daniel); his grandchildren, Courtney, Whitney (Mike), Kyle, Alyssa (Andy), Calysta, Renee (Jon), and Michael (Lillian); and his great-grandchildren, Shelby, Carter, Wrigley, Gwyn, Daniel, Oliver, and Maple, along with numerous extended family members and friends who will cherish his memory.
James will be remembered for his dedication to his family, his strong work ethic, his love of storytelling, and the warmth and humor he shared with everyone around him. His legacy lives on through the generations of family he loved so deeply and the countless lives he touched throughout his remarkable journey.
"Well done, good and faithful servant."
There will be a visitation for James on Friday, September 11, 2026 from 5:00 p.m-8:00 p.m. at Rees Funeral Home, Hobart Chapel, 600 W. Old Ridge Rd. Prayers will take place Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Mass of Christian burial will take place at Nativity of Our Savior Catholic Church in Portage. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Portage.
This information and the picture below were obtained from: https://www.reesfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/james-santacroce. The picture above was obtained from the 1951 HHS Memories yearbook, made available by the Lake County Public Library, at: https://archive.org/details/HOHS1951Images/.
