Obituary of John F. Viola

John ‘Buck’ Viola, 92, Silver Bay, passed away peacefully on November 26, 2020, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Silver Bay.

Buck was born on October 4, 1928 to John and Yolanda (Azzi) Viola in Mohawk, MI.  He grew up in the snow belt of the U.P. attending Calumet High School. Buck continued his education and played hockey at Michigan Technological University, earning a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering in 1950. He served in the US Army for two years during the Korean War stationed in the Philippines much of this time.

After his discharge from the Army, Buck worked for eight years as an engineer at Calumet & Hecla Mining and the State of Michigan before relocating to Silver Bay and working for many years as a professional engineer at Reserve Mining Company and Northshore Mining Company until his retirement. During his 60 years in Silver Bay, he was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Buck loved to build or fix things and would get excited whenever family or a friend needed a helping hand with a project. He was an avid fisherman and spent many weekends camping in the trailer and later traveling in the motorhome. Buck spent many hours collecting, cutting and polishing rocks for his silversmithed jewelry. Second only to his wife of 69 years, Pat, was Buck’s love of hockey. He was actively involved with the beginning of the Silver Bay hockey program and coached youth hockey for many years. Pat and Buck spent countless winter hours in their favorite chairs at the Arena watching their children, grandchildren, neighbors and any hockey game they could attend.

Buck was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Patricia (Hebbard); sons, Chris (Nancy), Mark (Carol) and Jesse; granddaughters, Libby, Lacey, Gina, and Shay; grandsons, Dan, Derek, Ryan, Neil and Tanner; 13 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Many thanks from the family to the staff at the SBVA for their compassionate loving care of both Buck and Pat. A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date to be determined.