The Man The Myth The Legend
November 10, 2020
John “Papa John” Francis Spagnola, loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and cousin passed away peacefully on October 23, 2020 in Prescott, AZ at the age of 72.
John was born on March 12th, 1948 in Chicago, IL to Rocco & Sophia Spagnola. John married his late wife Sally Spagnola in IL. They have 3 amazing children and 3 grandchildren. John then married his beloved wife Barbara Spagnola in Arizona in 2002.
John never met a stranger; everywhere he went he made a friend. He always had a story to tell that included so much joy and laughter you felt like you were there. His successful career in Sales came naturally to him due to his friendly and caring personality. This trait passed on to his children which made him proud. His joy for life included fun nicknames that his family gave to him - Papa John, Dadio, Papa Smurf, Coach, and so on. He had so much fun with life that he seemed to have a funny saying for everything he did. When he was selling at the flea market, he could be heard laughing and saying, "don't be bashful, don't be shy, just step right up and buy buy buy!" His positive energy was contagious to everyone he came in contact with.
Growing up in Chicago, John was a die hard Bears fan. He also found his love for good food there. One of his favorite things in life was a good Italian meal surrounded by family. His purest joy was when all of his family were together. Family was everything to him. Along with music. He had the ability to name any 60’s rock song he heard and he was never wrong. He played guitar in his earlier years with his band The Nightmares who he swore were going to be bigger than the Beatles.
John was the life of the party. We are sure that he is getting into trouble up there.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Rocco & Sophia Spagnola, and his wife Sally Spagnola. He is survived by his wife Barb Spagnola, his son, Johnny and his wife April, his son Joey, and his daughter Lisa and her husband Mason, his siblings, Mike Spagnola & Geri Hogrefe, and his grandchildren, Sally, Rocco and Cooper and his cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was the most phenomenal Father, Grandfather, Son, Husband and Uncle we could have ever had. Most would say he was 5 Stars. He will truly be missed.
John was born on March 12th, 1948 in Chicago, IL to Rocco & Sophia Spagnola. John married his late wife Sally Spagnola in IL. They have 3 amazing children and 3 grandchildren. John then married his beloved wife Barbara Spagnola in Arizona in 2002.
John never met a stranger; everywhere he went he made a friend. He always had a story to tell that included so much joy and laughter you felt like you were there. His successful career in Sales came naturally to him due to his friendly and caring personality. This trait passed on to his children which made him proud. His joy for life included fun nicknames that his family gave to him - Papa John, Dadio, Papa Smurf, Coach, and so on. He had so much fun with life that he seemed to have a funny saying for everything he did. When he was selling at the flea market, he could be heard laughing and saying, "don't be bashful, don't be shy, just step right up and buy buy buy!" His positive energy was contagious to everyone he came in contact with.
Growing up in Chicago, John was a die hard Bears fan. He also found his love for good food there. One of his favorite things in life was a good Italian meal surrounded by family. His purest joy was when all of his family were together. Family was everything to him. Along with music. He had the ability to name any 60’s rock song he heard and he was never wrong. He played guitar in his earlier years with his band The Nightmares who he swore were going to be bigger than the Beatles.
John was the life of the party. We are sure that he is getting into trouble up there.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Rocco & Sophia Spagnola, and his wife Sally Spagnola. He is survived by his wife Barb Spagnola, his son, Johnny and his wife April, his son Joey, and his daughter Lisa and her husband Mason, his siblings, Mike Spagnola & Geri Hogrefe, and his grandchildren, Sally, Rocco and Cooper and his cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was the most phenomenal Father, Grandfather, Son, Husband and Uncle we could have ever had. Most would say he was 5 Stars. He will truly be missed.