|
Ralph Dennis Gemignani
Saturday, June 26th, 1943 - Monday, January 29th, 2024
Ralph Gemignani was different things to different people. To his wife, he was the love of her life. To his colleagues, he was Captain. To his kids, he was Dad. To his grandkids he was Grandpa or Papa. To many, he was Ralph. Though, no matter what role he took, he was always someone people looked up to. No amount of words can properly describe what he meant to the people around him.
His passing took place on Monday January 29, 2024. Ralph was 80.
Ralph was born June 26, 1943 to his parents Ralph and Marie.
He married Angela Romano on September 4, 1965. Angela was his life partner and is among the family and friends who miss him today.
In 1964, Ralph enlisted in the Marine Corps and earned his Wings of Gold at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, in 1965. He then served as helicopter pilot in the Vietnam war. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Parkside with an accounting degree. Flying was his first occupational love, and he worked as a pilot for United Airlines for 34 years. Through his travels, he experienced many different cultures and liked to share those experiences with his family. Even though he traveled the world, Kenosha was always home and had a special place in his heart.
Ralph was a man who liked to learn. He often used technology to his advantage to learn to the fullest. Ralph often sat in his designated chair in the family/living room with his iPad, watching documentaries and reading voraciously. He often liked to learn one word from a different language every day, and encouraged his grandchildren to learn with him.
He is preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Marie, his in-laws John and Jennie Romano, and his younger brother Ron Gemig.
He is survived by his wife Angela, his sister Carole Mills, his brother Don Gemig, his children: Greg (Lora) Gemignani, Jeff (Lisa) Gemignani, Jennifer (Johan) LeGrange, and Sarah Gemignani (Ian Thompson), and his grandchildren: Dominic (Jillian) Gemignani, Genevieve Gemignani, Johnathan LeGrange, Amelia Gemignani, Luca Thompson, Gianni Thompson, and Nico Thompson.
Words pale in comparison to the life Ralph Gemignani has lived. He lived a rich, vibrant, colorful life, both in experience and in language. Life will be different without him, but as Oscar Wilde once said “Memory is the diary we all carry about with us.” Our memories are a testament to his life. We will always cherish them; for he definitely cherished the ones he made with his friends and family.
A memorial visitation will be held on Monday, February 5, 2024, from 10 am to 11:30 am at Proko Funeral Home with Military Honors starting promptly at 11:30 am, followed by a family remembrance. Inurnment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, https://givenow.lls.org or School Sisters of St. Francis, https://www.sssf.org/Donate.htm.
|
Rita Martino (Ginocchio) (1961)
"Time heals all wounds", that's what "they" say but even now, 5 months later..it is still difficult to accept that Ralph Gemignani is not here on Earth with us any longer. He seemed invincible is some way. Not one to be sick with anything remotely life threatening but here we are...what could have happened to cause his untimely passing? Who would have guessed it was on his radar? I knew Ralph for a long time, his wife Angela too. We basically all met the Summer before starting our sophomore year at St.Joseph HS, although not the same day. Over the years, Ralph's sense of humor didn't change much at all, neither did his sharp wit and demeanor. Never the phony person or one to show off his talents, he was about the most basic, down to Earth guy you could ever meet and yet he was very accomplished in so many ways that he could have easily bragged and not be lying! Over the decades, I've managed to stay close to Ralph and Angela. Always felt at ease around them as did my husband Bob who grew up in the Chicago area and didn't know either of them but heard a lot about them from me. But he liked them both right away and like me, misses the sharp comebacks you'd expect from Ralph. He was always at the ready to tease, much to Angela's dismay but she was his Gracie Allen to his George Burns and they were perfect together! So now the fact of the matter is, Ralph is no longer visable to us but his memory and spirit will forever linger in our minds and hearts as long as we are still Earthbound. But I am a believer and believe all of us re-unite on the other side, knowing each other as we once did here and fully expect Ralph to greet us, patiently waiting with a one-liner he could hardly wait to say, and that you can't help but groan over !I'll wait a long time for my turn, Ralph. Hope you haven't made friends again with you know who !! Rest in peace, sending you love and a big hug...Rita & Bob
Robert Acerbi (1961)
Beautiful sentiments, Rita. I miss his subtle humor. RIP, Ralph.
Angela Romano (Gemignani) (1961)
Thank you Rita for your beautiful words. It was so kind of you to take the time to so eloquently honor Ralph. He is missed every day. Llfe as I knew it for so many years will never be the same. You are right about him, having so many experiences in his life. I just recently found out that while he was flying in Vietnam he was shut downed twice, once had his copilot shot and killed, while they were still flying, as well as other things he never wanted to discuss. I am trying to go on with each day, but since it was a situation I was never prepared for, I am fumbling through my days. The friendship that we shared with you and Bob has been valuable to us both. As we celebrate this, Independence Day, I remember Ralph and I thank you for remembering him too.