William “Bill” DeGaetano, 84, Winona Lake, and a longtime resident of Warsaw, went home to be with the Lord at 7:10 a.m. Nov. 5, 2016, at Grace Village Health Care, Winona Lake. He was born Jan. 7, 1932, in Pittsburgh, Pa., to Roy and Esther Angelelli DeGaetano. On March 10, 1956, he was married to Constance Jean Vigna, who passed away Sept. 22, 2009. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps during the Korean conflict and was awarded the Purple Heart. He was a resident of Kosciusko County since August 1972, having moved to the area from Griffith. After his honorable discharge, he worked as a barber and also attended college to earn his teaching degree. He was a teacher at Madison Elementary School and a coach for a number of years. He was a member of Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church, where he was very involved as a Sunday school teacher. He will be missed dearly by family and friends. He will be lovingly remembered by his two sons, William "Dig" (wife Nanette) DeGaetano and Stephen H. (wife Kimberly) DeGaetano, both of Warsaw; seven grandchildren: Angela (husband Samuel) Miller, Seattle, Wash.; and Danielle, Anthony, Hannah, Lorenzo, Dominic and Dante DeGaetano, all of Warsaw; and two great-grandchildren, Tanner and Dexter Beck, both of Warsaw. Also surviving are his sister, Sandy Paino, St. Louis, Mo.; a daughter-in-law, Sonia DeGaetano, Warsaw; three brothers-in-law: David (wife Janice) Vigna, Portage; Norman Vigna, Garden Grove, Calif.; and David Williams, Summerfield, Fla.; and a sister-in-law, Mary Ann (husband Stanley) Olkoski, Hobart. He was preceded by his parents; wife; a sister, Carmelle Williams; and a son, Phil DeGaetano. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 210 S. High St., Warsaw, officiated by the pastor, Dr. Erik Ohman. Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, Warsaw. ***** Memorials to Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 210 S. High St., Warsaw, IN 46580; or to Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice, P.O. Box 1196, Warsaw, IN 46581-1196, would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences may be sent at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.
