John  A. Maffesanti, 92, of 319 Spring Camp Rd., Pence, died unexpectedly Monday, Sept. 20, 2010, in his home.      He was born Aug. 12, 1918, in Gwinn, Mich., son of the late Andrew and Johanna (Forchini) Maffesanti, attended grade school in Montreal, and graduated from Lincoln High School in Hurley in 1937. He then went to work in the Montreal Mine.      John entered the U.S. Army on May 8, 1942, serving in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations in New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Southern Philippines and Luzon, receiving, among numerous ribbons and citations, five Bronze Battle Stars. Following his honorable discharge on Sept. 19, 1945, he returned to Pence and resumed working in the Montreal Mine until it closed, and was self-employed in his retirement.      John was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, Iron County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1580 and Hurley American Legion Post 58. He enjoyed hunting and making wood.      Surviving are his brother, Frank "Cloochi", of Pence; and numerous nieces and nephews.      Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by brothers Frank in childhood, Angelo 'Sharkey" and Joseph "Pete"; and sisters Catherine Maffesanti and Josephine Violetta.      A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Sept. 24, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, with the Rev. Michael Hayden, celebrant.      Rite of Committal and interment   will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurley, where full military honors will be accorded by the combined Iron Co. V.F.W. Post 1580 and Hurley American Legion Post 58 Honor Guard.      Lunch will be served in the parish hall immediately upon return from the cemetery.      Relatives and friends may call at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday.      To view John's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.      Arrangements are with McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood.