Venice Isa Deese Obituary (1936 - 2013)

Venice Isa Deese was born to Venice L. Deese and Novella Yancey on May 1, 1936 in Dallas, Texas. Venice was united in marriage to Marian Mosley on January 29, 1982 in Crown Point, Indiana. Venice and Marian moved to Three Rivers , Michigan in 1994 from Chicago, Illinois. Venice was blessed with eight children, Pamela Reed-Santos (Joaquim), Anita Deese (Sam), Christopher Deese, Lisa Kindle, Robin Deese-Swain (Greg), Idonna Wright (Cameron), Meesha Essex, and Aven Deese (Syreeta). Also surviving are his sisters, Linda Mitchell (Willie) and Patsean Malbrough and a brother, Dwight Jones. He will be greatly missed by his 16 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandson, 1 God-daughter, and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, and loving step-parents, Eunice T. Deese and Roger Lee Jones, sisters, Gloria Scott, Patricia Jones, Louise Jackson, and brother, Cleveland Anderson. Venice graduated from Evanston Township High School and attended Kendall College. Venice was employed at Illinois Bell for 26 years and retired in 1994. Retirement meant new endeavors for Venice. He attended Olive-Harvey College in Chicago and obtained a certificate with honors in Criminal Justice. Venice was also employed at Sports Authority, TCI Cable, Meijer's, and the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging as a Meals on Wheels driver. He owned and operated his own business, "Venice's Bait Shop" on South Main Street in Three Rivers. Venice was an active member of the Beverly Area Planning Association in Chicago. In 1990 he was awarded the Community Service Award from the Chicago Police Department Bureau of Community Services. He coached basketball, played the bass guitar, taught martial arts, loved fishing, photography, and cooking. He attended the Holy Center Church in Bolingbrook, Illinois. Venice loved his family, friends, co-workers and neighbors. He had an infectious "thumbs-up" smile and loved to give. He had an abundant and rich life. Venice fought the good fight and we know God is well pleased. All the beautiful memories gathered through the years are ours to keep forever. Memorial services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013 at the Eickhoff Farrand Halverson Chapel in Three Rivers. It is suggested that memorials be directed to either the Three Rivers Health Hospice, or to the Indiana University Health Goshen Center for Cancer Care.