Ascanio Puntillo passed away peacefully on December 3, 2013 at St. Mary's Hospital in Hobart with his family by his side after a brief illness.
He was born September 30, 1922 to Anna (Muni) and Carmello Puntillo (both immigrants from Italy) in East Chicago, IN.
He was the first member of his family to graduate from High School (E.C. Roosevelt) in 1940.
Ascanio married Anna Basso on 7/1/1944 at Immaculate Conception Church in East Chicago and they raised their family of four children in Highland, IN.
Ascanio served his country with honor. He was a Master Sargent in the Army in the Pacific during WW II. As a member of the Military Police stationed in Japan he was one of the first Americans to view Hiroshima after the atomic bomb dropped. Ascanio escorted Russian diplomats inspecting the devastation of the bombing.
Ascanio returned to civilian life and the restaurant business. He owned Puntillo's Lounge in East Chicago from 1950 to 1968 where his mother and sister Connie, did all the cooking while he ran the bar business. He and his wife Anna owned and operated the Dairy Queen in Highland for 12 years. Ascanio then co-owned Mama Puntillo's with his brothers Sebastian and Benny.
Later Ascanio went on his own and bought and ran Ascanio's Quarterback Club in East Chicago. Throughout his life, Ascanio was the consummate host and made friends wherever he went.
Ascanio retired from the restaurant business at age 60 and went to refrigeration school in Chicago. He and his buddy Glen (Turkey) Miller worked together repairing ice machines until the ripe age of 90 this past April.
Ascanio started Puntillo's Notre Dame Booster Club in the 50's when they could not fill the football stadium. This group of 100 fans attended all of the home games. Later they would attend all the home games and one away game and then travel for a week to Hong Kong or the Philippines or some other exotic destination.
Ascanio was one of the oldest members of the Cesare Batisti Lodge #27. He was a past president of the lodge and was selected Man of the Year in 1985. During his presidency the new lodge in Schererville was built. He was a 4th Degree Knight member of the Knights of Columbus, and belonged to the American Legion.
Ascanio celebrated his 90th birthday in style with 150 of his closest friends and family. A month later he went on an Honor Flight to Washington DC honoring WWII Veterans. This was an absolute highlight of his life.
Ascanio is survived by his children: Charles (Cindy) of Lake Geneva, WI, John (Bride), Rosemary (Late Thomas) Dolatowski both of Burlington, WI, and June (Joe) Tellez of Highland, IN; grandchildren: Marie (Kerem) Korumnus, Kate (James) Vagle, Charles (Jane) Puntillo, Elizabeth (Mark) Dolatowski, Michael Dolatowski, Paige Puntillo, John Puntillo, Leo Puntillo, Joe Tellez, and Jessica Tellez; great grandchildren: Elena, Sabiha, and Devrim; and his sister, Auralia Crouch; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Ascanio was preceded in death by his wife, Anna; his brothers: Anthony, Sebastian, and Benny; and sisters: Constance Polito and Carmella (Kaptur) Nardoni.
Friends may join the family in remembering Ascanio and celebrating his life at the Burns Kish Funeral Home, 8415 Calumet Ave., Munster, IN on December 6, 2013 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.
The funeral mass will be at Our lady of Grace Church in Highland on December 7, 2013 at 10:30 AM.
A special thank you to Oscar, his landlord, friend, and caregiver.
Please make Memorials to the Honor Flight of Indiana allowing other WWII veterans to experience this wonderful opportunity. www.burnskish.com
He was born September 30, 1922 to Anna (Muni) and Carmello Puntillo (both immigrants from Italy) in East Chicago, IN.
He was the first member of his family to graduate from High School (E.C. Roosevelt) in 1940.
Ascanio married Anna Basso on 7/1/1944 at Immaculate Conception Church in East Chicago and they raised their family of four children in Highland, IN.
Ascanio served his country with honor. He was a Master Sargent in the Army in the Pacific during WW II. As a member of the Military Police stationed in Japan he was one of the first Americans to view Hiroshima after the atomic bomb dropped. Ascanio escorted Russian diplomats inspecting the devastation of the bombing.
Ascanio returned to civilian life and the restaurant business. He owned Puntillo's Lounge in East Chicago from 1950 to 1968 where his mother and sister Connie, did all the cooking while he ran the bar business. He and his wife Anna owned and operated the Dairy Queen in Highland for 12 years. Ascanio then co-owned Mama Puntillo's with his brothers Sebastian and Benny.
Later Ascanio went on his own and bought and ran Ascanio's Quarterback Club in East Chicago. Throughout his life, Ascanio was the consummate host and made friends wherever he went.
Ascanio retired from the restaurant business at age 60 and went to refrigeration school in Chicago. He and his buddy Glen (Turkey) Miller worked together repairing ice machines until the ripe age of 90 this past April.
Ascanio started Puntillo's Notre Dame Booster Club in the 50's when they could not fill the football stadium. This group of 100 fans attended all of the home games. Later they would attend all the home games and one away game and then travel for a week to Hong Kong or the Philippines or some other exotic destination.
Ascanio was one of the oldest members of the Cesare Batisti Lodge #27. He was a past president of the lodge and was selected Man of the Year in 1985. During his presidency the new lodge in Schererville was built. He was a 4th Degree Knight member of the Knights of Columbus, and belonged to the American Legion.
Ascanio celebrated his 90th birthday in style with 150 of his closest friends and family. A month later he went on an Honor Flight to Washington DC honoring WWII Veterans. This was an absolute highlight of his life.
Ascanio is survived by his children: Charles (Cindy) of Lake Geneva, WI, John (Bride), Rosemary (Late Thomas) Dolatowski both of Burlington, WI, and June (Joe) Tellez of Highland, IN; grandchildren: Marie (Kerem) Korumnus, Kate (James) Vagle, Charles (Jane) Puntillo, Elizabeth (Mark) Dolatowski, Michael Dolatowski, Paige Puntillo, John Puntillo, Leo Puntillo, Joe Tellez, and Jessica Tellez; great grandchildren: Elena, Sabiha, and Devrim; and his sister, Auralia Crouch; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Ascanio was preceded in death by his wife, Anna; his brothers: Anthony, Sebastian, and Benny; and sisters: Constance Polito and Carmella (Kaptur) Nardoni.
Friends may join the family in remembering Ascanio and celebrating his life at the Burns Kish Funeral Home, 8415 Calumet Ave., Munster, IN on December 6, 2013 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.
The funeral mass will be at Our lady of Grace Church in Highland on December 7, 2013 at 10:30 AM.
A special thank you to Oscar, his landlord, friend, and caregiver.
Please make Memorials to the Honor Flight of Indiana allowing other WWII veterans to experience this wonderful opportunity. www.burnskish.com
Ascanio Puntillo passed away peacefully on December 3, 2013 at St. Mary's Hospital in Hobart with his family by his side after a brief illness.
He was born September 30, 1922 to Anna (Muni) and Carmello Puntillo (both immigrants from Italy) in East Chicago, IN.
He was the first member of his family to graduate from High School (E.C. Roosevelt) in 1940.
Ascanio married Anna Basso on 7/1/1944 at Immaculate Conception Church in East Chicago and they raised their family of four children in Highland, IN.
Ascanio served his country with honor. He was a Master Sargent in the Army in the Pacific during WW II. As a member of the Military Police stationed in Japan he was one of the first Americans to view Hiroshima after the atomic bomb dropped. Ascanio escorted Russian diplomats inspecting the devastation of the bombing.
Ascanio returned to civilian life and the restaurant business. He owned Puntillo's Lounge in East Chicago from 1950 to 1968 where his mother and sister Connie, did all the cooking while he ran the bar business. He and his wife Anna owned and operated the Dairy Queen in Highland for 12 years. Ascanio then co-owned Mama Puntillo's with his brothers Sebastian and Benny.
Later Ascanio went on his own and bought and ran Ascanio's Quarterback Club in East Chicago. Throughout his life, Ascanio was the consummate host and made friends wherever he went.
Ascanio retired from the restaurant business at age 60 and went to refrigeration school in Chicago. He and his buddy Glen (Turkey) Miller worked together repairing ice machines until the ripe age of 90 this past April.
Ascanio started Puntillo's Notre Dame Booster Club in the 50's when they could not fill the football stadium. This group of 100 fans attended all of the home games. Later they would attend all the home games and one away game and then travel for a week to Hong Kong or the Philippines or some other exotic destination.
Ascanio was one of the oldest members of the Cesare Batisti Lodge #27. He was a past president of the lodge and was selected Man of the Year in 1985. During his presidency the new lodge in Schererville was built. He was a 4th Degree Knight member of the Knights of Columbus, and belonged to the American Legion.
Ascanio celebrated his 90th birthday in style with 150 of his closest friends and family. A month later he went on an Honor Flight to Washington DC honoring WWII Veterans. This was an absolute highlight of his life.
Ascanio is survived by his children: Charles (Cindy) of Lake Geneva, WI, John (Bride), Rosemary (Late Thomas) Dolatowski both of Burlington, WI, and June (Joe) Tellez of Highland, IN; grandchildren: Marie (Kerem) Korumnus, Kate (James) Vagle, Charles (Jane) Puntillo, Elizabeth (Mark) Dolatowski, Michael Dolatowski, Paige Puntillo, John Puntillo, Leo Puntillo, Joe Tellez, and Jessica Tellez; great grandchildren: Elena, Sabiha, and Devrim; and his sister, Auralia Crouch; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Ascanio was preceded in death by his wife, Anna; his brothers: Anthony, Sebastian, and Benny; and sisters: Constance Polito and Carmella (Kaptur) Nardoni.
Friends may join the family in remembering Ascanio and celebrating his life at the Burns Kish Funeral Home, 8415 Calumet Ave., Munster, IN on December 6, 2013 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.
The funeral mass will be at Our lady of Grace Church in Highland on December 7, 2013 at 10:30 AM.
A special thank you to Oscar, his landlord, friend, and caregiver.
Please make Memorials to the Honor Flight of Indiana allowing other WWII veterans to experience this wonderful opportunity. www.burnskish.com
He was born September 30, 1922 to Anna (Muni) and Carmello Puntillo (both immigrants from Italy) in East Chicago, IN.
He was the first member of his family to graduate from High School (E.C. Roosevelt) in 1940.
Ascanio married Anna Basso on 7/1/1944 at Immaculate Conception Church in East Chicago and they raised their family of four children in Highland, IN.
Ascanio served his country with honor. He was a Master Sargent in the Army in the Pacific during WW II. As a member of the Military Police stationed in Japan he was one of the first Americans to view Hiroshima after the atomic bomb dropped. Ascanio escorted Russian diplomats inspecting the devastation of the bombing.
Ascanio returned to civilian life and the restaurant business. He owned Puntillo's Lounge in East Chicago from 1950 to 1968 where his mother and sister Connie, did all the cooking while he ran the bar business. He and his wife Anna owned and operated the Dairy Queen in Highland for 12 years. Ascanio then co-owned Mama Puntillo's with his brothers Sebastian and Benny.
Later Ascanio went on his own and bought and ran Ascanio's Quarterback Club in East Chicago. Throughout his life, Ascanio was the consummate host and made friends wherever he went.
Ascanio retired from the restaurant business at age 60 and went to refrigeration school in Chicago. He and his buddy Glen (Turkey) Miller worked together repairing ice machines until the ripe age of 90 this past April.
Ascanio started Puntillo's Notre Dame Booster Club in the 50's when they could not fill the football stadium. This group of 100 fans attended all of the home games. Later they would attend all the home games and one away game and then travel for a week to Hong Kong or the Philippines or some other exotic destination.
Ascanio was one of the oldest members of the Cesare Batisti Lodge #27. He was a past president of the lodge and was selected Man of the Year in 1985. During his presidency the new lodge in Schererville was built. He was a 4th Degree Knight member of the Knights of Columbus, and belonged to the American Legion.
Ascanio celebrated his 90th birthday in style with 150 of his closest friends and family. A month later he went on an Honor Flight to Washington DC honoring WWII Veterans. This was an absolute highlight of his life.
Ascanio is survived by his children: Charles (Cindy) of Lake Geneva, WI, John (Bride), Rosemary (Late Thomas) Dolatowski both of Burlington, WI, and June (Joe) Tellez of Highland, IN; grandchildren: Marie (Kerem) Korumnus, Kate (James) Vagle, Charles (Jane) Puntillo, Elizabeth (Mark) Dolatowski, Michael Dolatowski, Paige Puntillo, John Puntillo, Leo Puntillo, Joe Tellez, and Jessica Tellez; great grandchildren: Elena, Sabiha, and Devrim; and his sister, Auralia Crouch; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Ascanio was preceded in death by his wife, Anna; his brothers: Anthony, Sebastian, and Benny; and sisters: Constance Polito and Carmella (Kaptur) Nardoni.
Friends may join the family in remembering Ascanio and celebrating his life at the Burns Kish Funeral Home, 8415 Calumet Ave., Munster, IN on December 6, 2013 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.
The funeral mass will be at Our lady of Grace Church in Highland on December 7, 2013 at 10:30 AM.
A special thank you to Oscar, his landlord, friend, and caregiver.
Please make Memorials to the Honor Flight of Indiana allowing other WWII veterans to experience this wonderful opportunity. www.burnskish.com
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