Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 2/2/2002

John Pighi

March 19, 1913 - Jan. 31, 2002

John Peter Paul Pighi, 88, of E. 4th St., Mishawaka, passed away at 7:10 a.m. on Thursday, January 31 at the St. Joseph Community Hospital, Mishawaka.

John was born on March 19, 1913 in Mishawaka to the late Marcellus and Delphina (Buschi) Pighi. Also preceding him in death were a sister, Louise Zehring on March 24, 1986 and a brother, Albert Pighi on February 23, 1986.

On August 29, 1936, John married the former Mary S. Dunning. She preceded him in death on December 27, 1997.

Surviving John are two daughters, Jonette (James) DuVall of Mishawaka and Rosemary (Roger) Cox of Granger; eight grandchildren, Angela Auer of Collinsville, Ill., Andrew and John DuVall, both of Mishawaka, Jeannine Fretz of Glen Carbon, Ill., Amy DuVall of South Bend, Alyssa Wilcox of Lebanon, Ind., Christina Bell of Atlanta, Ga., and Elizabeth Moehle of Speedway, Ind.; and nine great grandchildren.

John had been employed at UniRoyal in Mishawaka for 35 years, after retiring he worked several years for Penz Products. He was a member of St. Joseph Parish in Mishawaka, the Knights of Columbus Council 1878, VFW Post 360, and the American Legion Post 161. John served in the US Army during WW II. He spent time in Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns earning the EAME Theater Ribbon with 4 bronze stars, a Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. John was a member of the 128th Anti-Aircraft Battalion with a Tech 5 grade when he was discharged in 1945.

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 3, in the Thallemer-Goethals Funeral Home, where a Rosary will be recited at 2:30 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday, February 4 at St. Joseph Church with Fr. Robert A. Yast officiating. Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Church, Mishawaka.