Luigi Gino Leo

Luigi Gino Leo of Pine City passed away at his son’s home in Ramsey on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at the age of 80. Born March 25, 1936 in Pola, Italy (now Pula, Croatia), he was a small child when his father claimed him from his mother and sent him to San Simone (near Gallipoli) in southern Italy.  He was raised there by his paternal grandfather Andrea, while his father was a soldier in the Italian army during WWII.  He was eventually united with his step-mother Serena and younger sister Maria (Ada), and brothers Andrea, Giuseppe, and Lorenzo. During his teenage years his father brought him to Ostiglia in Northern Italy, as a teenager he worked various odd jobs, including truck driving around northern Italy and parts of surrounding European countries. Also during this time he received correspondence from his mother Rosa, and learned of his step-father Erminio and younger sister Anna, and brothers Peter, Claude, and Bruno.  At 19, he boarded a boat bound for America to be reunited with them, leaving Italy in late 1955 enroute to New York City. Not speaking a word of English, he made his way to Eveleth, MN and was reunited with his mother. After working many odd jobs and learning the language on his own, he joined the Army and gained his citizenship, went to mechanic school and finally met Barb Goldman and was married. For his first 14 years of marriage he worked 3, sometimes 4 jobs at a time and worked 18 hours 6 days a week and saved money to purchase a home in Mountain Iron, MN with no mortgage while having 4 kids! Together with Barb he raised 4 kids, Michael, Robert, Gina, & David. He returned to Italy many times and ensured all his children met their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Italy.  In 1992 he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and continued to show us his passion for life by fiercely battling the debilitating disease for the last 24 years.   Luigi is survived by his wife Barbara, children: Michael Andrea (Julie) Leo of Ramsey, Robert Joseph Leo of Bradenton, FL, David Luigi (Jenny) Leo of Blaine; grandchildren: Matthew (Dani) Leo, Jessica Leo, Megan Leo, Logan Woessner, Austin Woessner, Sophie Woessner, Andy Leo, Tim Leo, Jack Leo and Sophia Leo; great-grandchildren Ethan and Mason Leo; siblings: Guiseppe (Laura) Leo of Venice, Italy, Lorenzo (Giuseppina) Leo of Como, Italy, Ada (Remo) Stolco of Como, Italy, Anna (Jack) Pollack of Eveleth, Claudio (Sally) Devescovi of Ely, and Bruno (Karen) Devescovi of Friendswood, TX; sisters-in-law: Bonnie Devescovi of Mountain Iron, MN, and Rita Leo of Como, Italy; many nieces, nephews and friends.He was preceded in death by his parents Luigi Leo and Rosa Devescovi, daughter Gina Maria Leo, brothers: Andrea Leo and Peter Devescovi, brother-lin-law Charles (Chuck) Gornik and nephew Brian Gornik.Monsignor Aleksander Suchan will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial for Luigi: 11 AM; Friday, December 16, 2016 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pine City, Minnesota. The visitation and reviewal is planned for 6-8:00 PM Thursday, December 15, 2016 at the Swanson Chapel and also one hour prior to the service at the church.Funeral arrangements for Mr. Leo are entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City, Swanson Chapel. www.funeralandcremationservice.com