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Mario J.
Ventura, Jr.
November 2, 1941 - March 24, 2023 |
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 Mario
passed away on March 24, 2023, at his home in Pleasant Prairie,
Wisconsin surrounded by loved ones. Mario was born in Kenosha,
Wisconsin on November 2, 1941, to Mario Sr. and Martha (Ricci)
Ventura. Following his graduation from Campion Jesuit High
School in Prairie duChien, Wisconsin in 1959, he attended Notre
Dame and Marquette Universities and graduated from the latter in
1965. Mario enlisted in the U.S. Army and completed
two tours of duty in Saigon, Vietnam where he served in the
Combined Intelligence Center. Mario returned to the US
where he continued his military service in the US ArmyReserves
until honorably discharged at the rank of Captain.
Following his
military service, Mario entered Marquette University Law School
and graduated in 1971. Also, in May of 1971, Mario married
his wife of 51 years, Susan Fortelka, at St. Louise De Marillac
Catholic Church in LaGrange Park, IL.
Mario began his
25-year legal career in the Kenosha County District Attorney’s
Office and later established a private law practice with The
Honorable Bruce Schroeder.
Throughout his life
from the time he was eight years old, he worked in various
capacities at his parent’s business, Mars Cheese Castle, proudly
telling people that he was the Cheese Castle’s first maintenance
man. After retiring from his law practice, he returned to
the family business full-time until 2017 when physical
challenges prevented him from more active daily involvement in
the business. Mario especially enjoyed meeting and talking
with customers and Cheese Castle employees, many of whom became
cherished friends.
Mario was preceded
in death by his parents, Mario Sr. and Martha Ventura, and his
in-laws, Robert and Anne Fortelka.
In addition to his
wife, Mario is survived by his two sons, Christopher
(Jill)Ventura, and Michael Ventura, and one grandson, August
(Gus)Ventura, a sister, Angela (Phil) Wehrmeister, and
brother-in-law, Bob Fortelka, nieces and nephews, dear friends
Vic and Pat Gotelaere, Dennis and Pat Kaldor; his four-legged
companions Gabby, Monty, and Lucky, the other ‘love of his
life’, Cynthia II, his prized ‘63 Corvette, and his many
friends.
Mario was a Life
Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a past member of the
Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Wisconsin Academy
of Trial Lawyers, the American Bar Association and the State Bar
Association of Wisconsin, and the Marquette University Alumni
Association.
Mario’s family is
most grateful to Dr. George Poulette and his staff, Dr. Shepler,
the many physicians and staff who cared for Mario throughout the
many years of his declining health, and the Kenosha Hospice
Alliance who cared for him in recent months. Most of all,
Mario’s family is grateful for the care provided by Antonina
Butkevic, and especially grateful for the faithful, devoted, and
compassionate care provided by Julius Uza for the past five
years.
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