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Tony Reggio

November 30, 1934 - November 24, 2020
Kalamazoo, MI

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Visitation

Saturday, November 28, 2020
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EST
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900
Driving Directions

Service

Saturday, November 28, 2020
11:00 AM EST
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900
Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

St. Mary's Catholic Church
939 Charlotte
Kalamazoo, MI 49048
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Luciano Antonio “Tony” Reggio was a kind and generous man through and through. A loving husband, supportive father, and fun-loving grandfather, he earned a wealth of abundant memories and special moments with the ones he loved. Tony was known for his quiet yet optimistic demeanor, and his special way with people. Everyone was made to feel comfortable in his presence and customary of many Italians, he always kept wine on hand for celebrating special occasions and any occasion in-between. Deeply loved, there is no doubt that his wisdom and guidance will be deeply missed by his many special friends and loved ones.

With the economy still suffering as a result of the Great Depression, Angelo and Caterina (Mion) Reggio welcomed home their newborn son, Luciano Antonio on November 30, 1934, in the small northeastern town of Fanna, Italy. Born an only child, his birth brought them much hope and promise during trying economic times.

Tony lived a happy childhood under the care of his loving parents. His father modeled a lifetime of hard work as a carpenter. As a result, Tony was able to learn much of his handy work from him at a young age. Proud of his family heritage, Not to be forgotten, however, was his childhood sweetheart, Silvana Ferrarin. Growing up next door to one another, they would whistle back and forth vying for attention from the other. Once Silvana had grown into a young woman, Tony couldn’t keep his eyes off of her! Eager to spend their lives together, they joined in marriage on a snowy winter day of January 23, 1960. San Martino Catholic Church was the perfect setting for their intimate ceremony in beautiful Fanna, Italy.

A year later, in 1961, Silvana, Tony, and their young son, Fulvio immigrated to America, bravely starting a new life in an unknown land. Settling in Kalamazoo, he obtained his green card with the help of a cousin and put his skills to good use in the tile industry. Tony’s strong work ethic landed him a job at Central Tile and Terrazzo laying tile, doing terrazzo work, and putting down epoxy flooring. Tony had an eye for perfectionism and no job was ever complete without a thorough review. His handy work is visible in many Kalamazoo and surrounding are buildings. He was a proud member of the local bricklayers union #2 and was well respected for his work over the course of his career which spanned over three decades.

As a father, Tony was always supportive and nurturing. He wanted nothing but the best for his family. A strong provider, he made sure they never went without the simple pleasures in life. A devoted companion, Tony enjoyed many years of traveling with his wife, Silvana. They especially savored their many trips back to Italy where they were able to visit with family. Grounded in their Italian heritage, they looked forward to meetings of the German/Italian Club and their frequent dinners. He and Silvana loved one another beyond measure and never missed an opportunity to dance together or ride their Vespa through town on a nice day. They were delighted to celebrate fifty married years in 2010 just shortly before she passed away in 2012.

Fiercely independent, Tony also loved tending to his large garden and fishing. He loved sharing his love of fishing for bluegills with his grandsons, Brandon and Justin. He never missed one of their special events or celebrations over the years and cheered them on during their baseball games and wrestling matches. Tony was immensely proud of the two of them, as well as his great-granddaughters, Olivia and Hayden. Described as caring, helpful, and always willing to put in an honest day's work, Tony lived his life to the fullest. His generosity and unconditional love will certainly be missed by all those who knew and loved him.

His final years were spent at Friendship Village where he enjoyed the bingo games and meeting new people.

Tony Reggio, age 85, of Kalamazoo, MI, died on November 24, 2020. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kalamazoo. Tony was preceded in death by his loving wife, Silvana in 2012. Surviving are his son, Fulvio and his wife, Kelly Reggio, two grandchildren: Brandon and his wife, Stacy Reggio and Justin Reggio, and two great-granddaughters: Olivia and Hayden. Funeral Services will be held at 11 am on Saturday, November 28 at the Betzler Life Story Funeral Home, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo 269-375-2900. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Private burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Please visit Tony’s personal web page at www.BetzlerLifeStory.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign his online guestbook before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

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