Anthony J. Decpetris, Jr.

SIOUX CITY -- Anthony J. "Tony" Decpetris Jr., 81, of Sioux City died Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, at Countryside Retirement Home following a lengthy illness.

Services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, October 22, 2009 at Cathedral of the Epiphany Catholic Church in Sioux City, with the Rev. William J. Vit Jr. officiating. Graveside services will be 4 p.m. Thursday in Yankton Municipal City Cemetery, Yankton, S.D., with military rites conducted by the U.S. Naval Reserves. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, 6200 Morningside Ave. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Tony was born Feb. 17, 1928, in Sioux City, the son of Anthony and Josephine (Vakulskas) Decpetris. He graduated from Trinity High School in 1945. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1947, when he was honorably discharged. He then attended Morningside College.

He married Gladys Geraldson on Oct. 9, 1948, in Sioux City. He was a lifelong Sioux City resident. He was employed with Schlumberger, Concrete Pipe and Machinery and Terra Chemical, from which he retired in 1983.

He had been a member of St. Casmir's Catholic Church and Cathedral of the Epiphany. He was a member of the American Legion and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He liked to dance the polka and greatly enjoyed being with family and friends during the holidays.

Survivors include his wife, Gladys of Sioux City; a daughter, Gloria Jean Wickey and her husband, Gene of Tucson, Ariz.; two sisters: his twin sister Angnes Donovan of Sioux City and Irene Reburn and her husband Byron of Bartlesville, OK; grandchildren, Gina Allard and her husband, Robert, Gretchen Cooper and her husband, Dustin and Ginger Wickey; great-grandchildren, Tony, Jack and Charles Allard, Cali Grace Cooper, Caroline Cooper, Rylan and Lucy LaFaye; nephews, Dr. Michael Reburn, Dr. Jerry Donovan, Dr. John Donovan, Matt Donovan and Chan Johansen; a niece, Kristy Johnson; and a sister-in-law, Marilyn Johansen of Wakonda, S.D.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Pallbearers will be Harold Sturgeon Sr., Les Jensen, Kermit Strom, Ralph Paulson, Dr. Neil Wainwright, Dr. Michael Reburn and Robert Olsen. Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Allard, Dustin Cooper, Brandon LaFaye and Byron Reburn.