Joseph Louis Gelli

Owned Gelli Painting and Sandblasting Co. Joseph Louis Gelli, 82, of Claysville, died at 8:22 p.m. Tuesday, February 21, 2006, in Washington Hospital. He was born July 9, 1923, in DeKalb, Ill., a son of Emmanuel and Livia Cipriano Gelli. He owned Gelli Painting and Sandblasting Co. Mr. Gelli was Catholic and attended DeKalb High School. He was a member of Slovan Veterans of Foreign Wars and DeKalb American Legion Post. He enjoyed woodcutting, hunting, fishing and was an outdoorsman. Mr. Gelli served in the U.S Army, Company D, 111th Engineer Battalion, in Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. He received four overseas service bars, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with one Silver Medal star, a bronze arrowhead and World War II Victory Medal. His wife, Carol Taylor, died in 1979. Surviving are a son, Kenneth Raymond Gelli of Phoenix, Ariz.; a daughter, Nancy Jo and husband John Barry Leonard Jr. of DeKalb; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He made his home with Alice E. Miller. Deceased are a brother, Romano Gelli, and two sisters, Norma Chilton and Dora Higgins. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where a blessing service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 25, with the Rev. Nicholas Spirko officiating. Interment will follow in West Point Cemetery, Avella. Graveside military rites will be accorded by Claysville American Legion Post.