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- [S5] Obituary.
YAKIMA - Gene Deccio, 88, of Yakima, went peacefully to the angels early April 1, 2014, surrounded by his wife and children singing and playing the music he loved.
Eugene Louis Deccio was born January 1, 1926 in Yakima, WA, the son of Salvatore Deccio and Esterina Gallucci, second generation Italian immigrants from the Calabria region of Italy. Gene attended Moxee Elementary, Central and Moxee High School, lettering in baseball and basketball. He went on to attend Yakima Junior College fall quarter of 1943, lettering in college basketball as well.
Gene enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at the age of 17 in November 1943 during WWII, and left for the military in February 1944. He traveled from Salt Lake City to Amarillo, Texas for boot camp and then off to San Bernadino, CA for tech school. He took a train cross country and boarded a plane for India; in affiliation with the China-Burma, India Theater. Stationed in Shamshernagar, India, Gene was a flight engineer and flew in a C-109 tanker as well as a C54 Skymaster converted DC 4, serving as a member of a five man crew flying 100 octane fuel over the Himalayan range (known as The HUMP) into various regions of China. He flew 68 missions, and was discharged in 1946 at the age of 20.
Following a stint in the military Gene worked as produce manager for Baimes Grocery Store in Yakima. Fate took over and it was here he met the love of his life, Blanche Moreau. Gene winked at the brunette shopping for lettuce in the produce dept. Blanche smiled back and kept returning for more and more lettuce from the handsome Italian produce manager; and the rest is history.
After a whirlwind romance, Gene and Blanche married in 1948, a union that lasted 65 years, producing 8 children; three sons and five daughters, 20 grandchildren, and 31 1/2 great grandchildren. Gene farmed with his father, who was a vegetable grower for 40 some odd years. As the family grew the kids worked side by side with their Dad, with two of his sons eventually becoming partners in the family business. Upon retiring from farming in 1981 at the age of 55, Gene had the opportunity to sell cars at various dealerships in the Yakima Valley.
Gene had a passion for baseball, attending many Mariners games although he was an avid Yankees fan his entire life. NASCAR was a favorite, and Gene and Blanche were lucky enough to attend the Indy 500 in the late 1990's.
Family was number one for Gene! He and his family enjoyed yearly reunions with the Gallucci side of the family in the The Dalles, OR, and the Deccio side of the family in Yakima. Both events brimming with exceptional homemade Italian dishes and baked goods galore.
Gene and his wife Blanche raised their family and enjoyed their golden years in the Yakima Valley. Gene is survived by Blanche, his wife of 65 years, sons Dennis (Lynda) Deccio, Greg (Jan) Deccio, and Ted (Alaina) Deccio, daughters Gwen (Dale) Gamache, Vicki (Jeff) Weber, Gina (Brian) Keller, Jacki (Larry) Cacchiotti, and Chris McVicker; 20 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren and one on the way. Plus many nieces and nephews. Gene was preceded in death by his parents Sam and Esther Deccio.
A special thank you to the staff at Landmark Care Center: Drs. Vielbig, Backer, Krieger and Zambito who took such wonderful, compassionate care of Dad during his last days.
A Vigil Service will be held Thursday, April 3, 2014, 6:00 p.m. with the Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 4th, both at St. Paul's Cathedral. Private family inurnment will immediately follow the service at Calvary Cemetery. Please join the family for a reception, 3:00 p.m., at Brookside Funeral Home, 500 W. Prospect, Moxee, WA. Memorials may be made to the VFW Post 379, c/o Brookside Funeral Home, PO Box 9907, Yakima, WA 98909.
Brookside Funeral Home & Crematory, Yakima, is entrusted with the arrangements
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