Leo Bassetto
Leo Bassetto, age 95, of Friendship, Wisconsin went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at his home.
Mass of Catholic Burial will be 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 29, 2018 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Friendship, Wisconsin. Father Francis Dias will officiate. Interment will be at the St. Leo Catholic Cemetery, Friendship, Wisconsin.
Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. on Sunday at Roseberry’s Funeral Home.
Leo was born September 13, 1922 in Marostica, Italy to Louis and Esther (Tonniazzo) Bassetto. After serving as a US Marine in World War II in the Pacific Theater where he participated in many of the historic battles on the Marshall Islands; Tarawa and Saipan Islands. He was wounded during the Saipan battle and received two purple hearts. After the war, Lee and Dolores met on a blind date and were married on April 7, 1951 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Chicago. They were blessed with six children, 15 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren (with one on the way!) In 1959 they decided to convert the front portion of their house into a business on the East Side of Chicago. This small carry out business soon grew in popularity; Lee decided to open a second location in Calumet City. He moved to Friendship, WI in 1976 to retire but soon opened Bassetto’s Restaurant. Leo and Dolores owned and operated Bassetto’s until retiring in 1999. He continued to work on his farm and loved to garden, cook, make homemade wine and sausage. Leo also enjoyed fishing and hunting with his family and friends and watching the Packer games.
Leo was a member of the Second Marine Division, Red Cloud American Legion 250, Purple Hearts Society, Disabled Veterans of America, NRA and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Esther Bassetto; and son, James Bassetto.
Survivors:
Wife: Dolores Bassetto of Friendship, WI
Son: William (Alana) Bassetto of Naperville, IL
Grandchild: Bridget (Derek) (Great-Grandchildren: Aisling, Nolan, & Maura)
Grandchild: Brianne (John) (Great-Grandchildren: Jack & Lila)
Grandchild: Caitlin (Nicholas) (Great-Grandchildren: Liam, Cavan, & Maeve)
Son: Thomas (Kathy) Bassetto of Munster, IN
Grandchild: Gina (Jarrad) (Great-Grandchildren: Leo, Ean, & Kara)
Grandchild: Julie (Douglas) (Great-Grandchildren: Cole and one on the way)
Grandchild: Thomas
Daughter-in-law: Alison Bassetto of Naperville, IL
Grandchild: Madeline
Grandchild: Alex
Daughter: Donna (Joseph) Leahy of Oswego, IL
Grandchild: Taylor
Grandchild: Janean (Nathan)
Son: Steven (Cassandra) Bassetto of Neenah, WI
Grandchild: Karson
Grandchild: Kaden
Daughter: Linda (Doug) Driscoll of Neenah, WI
Grandchild: Natalie
Grandchild: Anne Marie
Grandchild: Emily
Further survived by other relatives and friends.
We will never forget your love and how you nurtured us with your gifts. You leave your spirit behind in each person you have touched. We pray Lord, to help us come out of the darkness we feel at the loss of our father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, so we can come into the light of Christ and remain there forever. Amen
Memorials in Leo’s memory may be given to the Salvation Army.
Roseberry’s Funeral Home is assisting the family. Visit www.roseberrys.com for online condolences and further information.
So sorry for your loss,we have many happy memories,loved talking with Lee and loved his way around raising and cooking food. Will never forget his home raised King size chickens, Prayers for the family
So very sorry for your loss. Praying for you all during this difficult time. Mr. Bassetto was a wonderful neighbor and will be greatly missed. I especially remember his pet turkey, Tom, that used to walk across the road to visit us. Mr. Bassetto would come over with his pick-up truck to get him and they would sit together on the tailgate with Tom “gobbling” away just loving all the attention. 🙂
Lee was a wonderful friend. He was a blessing to all who knew him. He was a very special person.
Will sure miss talking to ya bud. Tell Grepo hi for me.
Our sincere condolences to the Bassetto family.
My sincere condolences to the family. I’m thankful I had the opportunity to hear some of his stories.
Bill from Abby Vans
Sorry to hear about your loss. We will keep you and your family in our prayers
My sincere condolences to Steve, Casey, Karson, Kaden and the rest of the Bassetto family
Well so sorry to hear about Lee He was the best he will
Be missed Sincere Condolence
Steve, Casey & boys and the entire Bassetto family….my heartfelt sympathy to you all. I met Leo (US Marine) when Steve accompanied his Dad and me with my Dad (US Navy–PT Boat So Pacific) on the Old Glory Honor Flight from Appleton to Washington, DC…almost 8 years ago honoring our heroes from WWII, our fathers!! The greatest generation. Leo was a true American hero who sacrificed so much for our country’s freedom in the South Pacific and I was honored to be in his company that day where these veterans were honored to see THEIR beautiful WWII monument in Washington! It was a wonderful trip and so cool that all the Bassetto “band of brothers” met him and surprised him just before heading into the Arlington Cemetery! What greater pride to display to one’s father. He made so much out of his life afterwards, a true test of internal strength and an American inspiring legacy. May you all find comfort in the remarkable life he lived and smile at a life well lived indeed! You are in my thoughts and prayers. Big hugs to all!
My sincere condolences to Dolores and family. Worked at Bassetto’s as a waitress, and so enjoyed my time there. They were like family.
Dear Steve, Casey, and family,
It is with a heavy heart we express our deepest sympathy for your loss.
Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Jim & Margitta, Appleton, WI
Sad to hear the news announced during mass at St. Anne’s in Oswego yesterday..Thoughts and Prayers to Donna, Joe, and the entire Bassetto family. What an accomplished life Leo lived, Rest in Peace.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bassetto family. God Bless you all.
So sorry for your loss Delores and family.
Leo was great. He will be missed
Sorry for your loss. Leo was a great help when I bought Bassetto’s supper club ( changed it to TD’s Trapline Food and Spirits) from him in 1994. I owned it from 1994-2005 and Leo was a great friend throughout the years. My deepest sympathy & condolences to your family. He was a great man!!!!
I am so sorry for your loss. I will always remember Lee as a tough man who was really a teddy bear at heart. I’ll never forget all the time I spent with the family at the restaurant. You all made me feel like family. God bless you all.
Semper Fi, Leo from Tim Diemert. Our condolences to the family. He was a good man.
Condolences to the Bassetto family.
Dolores & Family My sincere condolences for the passing of your dear Leo. He was a good man & I’m thankful for his service to our Country. God Bless all of you during this most difficult time.
So sorry to hear of Leo’s passing. He was always a delight to talk to and I enjoyed our visits. He was an amazing man and I am thankful for the service he gave his country! A true hero!
Dolores and family,
Our deepest sympathy and prayers to you and yours. What a wonderful life, and love story you shared. Lee will be missed and remembered fondly by all those whose lives he touched.
Steve and family, so sorry for your loss.
Leo and Dolores are the “bestest” people both of us have ever had the pleasure of knowing and enjoying their company and their fantastic food at Basetto’s in Friendship. NO ONE has even come close in our travels. You are both sorely missed.
Dolores, Lynn and I want to offer our condolences to you and your family…..Lee was a great friend and we will miss him…
Sorry for your loss Delores ,and Family. Leo was a great friend of all that had the chance to talk with him , He loved making his home made wine ,and pressed sausage the Italian way . Leo was a teacher that would always help a person by giving his wisdom on how to make the finest wine or sausage. He will be greatly missed by all. RIP Leo Bassetto
So sorry for your loss. It appears that Leo lived a wonderful life and will whoop it up in Heaven. That is the way I have learned to treat death after we lost our son, Kevin back in 1987. Do not remorse but celebrate his life and all the wonderful memories you have of your lives together. I wonder if we can, or want to live to 95 years. The write up is a great tribute to Leo and I am sure he is pleased to be looking down upon his family.
God Bless,
Ken and Barb Rapacz
Always here for you when you’re in need. Love you, vito.
R.I.P Leo Salute to a Real Vet.
So sorry to hear this Delores. My prayers are with you.
Sorry For Your Loss??
Condolences to Dolores and the Bassetto family. I first met you through Dolores Zant as I broke a horse named Fleeco for Linda. And the first time I tried frog legs was at Bassetto’s restaurant… awesome food and awesome family. Lee was a great man amd thank you all for bringing some good history to Adams county.
Condolences to the Bassetto family during this difficult time.
Dear Steve,Casey and Family
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your Father.I know the emotional pain you are feeling now just try to Rejoice in knowing he is with our Heavenly Father and someday we will all unite again.
My prayers are with you all
Kathy De Ford
So very sorry to hear that. Delores you and your family are in my prayers.
Our prayers are with all of you! Leo was a great man. So many great stories of being part of the boys trips!!! He will always be remembered. Thankful to have known him. XO
Love,
George, Teri, Lexi and Abbi
So Sorry to hear of Lee’s passing. Many good memories I have of him when I was a bartender at their restaurant. Him and his experiences of new foods including alligator that he wanted us to sample. So many laughs. Will miss him. My deepest thoughts and prayers to the whole family.
Dear Dolores and family
I am so, so sorry to hear of Leo’s passing. May God hold your family in his arms and bring you comfort and peace during this very difficult time for all of you. What a wonderful long life Leo was Blessed with, a wonderful woman to spend it with and a beautiful, beautiful family. Leo was truly Blessed!!! We will miss our neighbor of over 40 years. God Bless……. love and hugs Pat and family
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Our deepest sympathy. God Bless.
Condolences to Bill & Tom, and all of the Bassetto family. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Our thoughts & prayers are with all of his family & friends during this difficult time.
Love,
Tim & Kris Haap
Sending prayers and hugs to the whole Bassetto family.
What an amazing man! Prayers.
Our deepest condolences during this difficult time.
Thoughts and prayers are with all of the family.
My heart hurts seeing this, blessings, hugs to your family.
My deepest sympathy’s go out to the Bassetto family, my heart is so sad, Lee was a wonderful man that let nothing keep him down, I will miss my visits with him and his great homemade wine! Now all will be healed and you can run and dance and have a cigar with your son Jimmy, loved you
Our sincere condolences to the Bassetto family.
Sorry to hear this news. Thinking of the entire Bassetto family.