Leo Gaetano Giocomo FRIGO
FRIGO, CHAPMAN, LONGSTREET, JAHNKE, RIBARCHEK, ZAPPATELLI, YOUNG
Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/18/2007 at 15:05:29
DePERE, Wis. — Leo Gaetano Giocomo Frigo, 69, of DePere was born into eternal life on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2001, at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, Wis. The son of Pasquale and Camilla Frigo was the 13th child of 16 children. His childhood days were spent in Pound, Wis., and Aurora, Wis., and he was educated at Guardian Angels Boarding School in Oneida, Wis., and St. Norbert High School in DePere, graduating as salutatorian of the class of 1950. Following high school graduation, Leo worked in his family’s business, Frigo Cheese Corp., spent 10 months as a novice at New Mellary Abbey in Dubuque, Iowa, served in the U.S. Army 92nd Searchlight Division in Korea and completed a degree in dairy science at Iowa State University in Ames.
While at Iowa State, Leo met fellow student, Fran Chapman and they were married June 21, 1958, in Belmond, Iowa. To this union five children were born, Margaret Mary (David) Longstreet of Blue Springs, Mo., Yvonne Camilla (Peter) Jahnke of Oconomowoc, Wis., Mary Beth (Neil) Ribarchek of Waukesha, Wis., Barbara Frigo (deceased) and Christopher James Jude (Lori) Frigo of DePere.
Following college graduation, Leo returned to his family’s cheese business and served in a number of capacities. His first responsibility was as manager of Carney Milk Products of Carney. In 1964, he was elected corporate treasurer of Frigo Cheese and served as director of operations for the entire company. In 1980, Leo was elected president of Frigo Cheese Corp. and he held this position until his retirement. At the age of 52, Leo retired from cheese making and began his life as a full-time volunteer. As a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and with the cooperation of many churches of all denominations throughout the Green Bay area, Paul’s Pantry was officially opened in a corner of the former St. Vincent de Paul store on Feb. 14, 1984. This endeavor grew from a small group of dedicated volunteers distributing donated produce from area grocery stores to the large operation it is today. Leo used his own station wagon as the first vehicle to collect produce and he sometimes climbed into dumpsters to retrieve edible food until produce managers realized the seriousness of his quest. In this apostolate Leo served for the remainder of his life. Leo’s other community involvements were as president of the Green Bay Downtown Rotary Club, as treasurer of the Green Bay Symphony, as vice president of the Green Bay Serra Club and as president of the Green Bay District Council of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. With his wife, Fran, he was also Wisconsin Section Representative for the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, a Cup Minister at St. Norbert Abbey, a member of the Prison Ministry Group which visits the Green Bay Correctional Institution, a former lector, home school president and executive couple for Renew at St. Joseph Parish in DePere (now Our Lady of Lourdes), a strong advocate for the Pro-Life cause, and a member of the Republican party of Brown County. He was also a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Abbot Pennings Council of the Knights of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars and a volunteer at the Adoration Chapel at St. Peter and Paul Church. He was knighted as a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre in 1986 and rose to the rank of Knight Grand Cross. For his volunteer work Leo received many awards including, the 1997 Free Enterprise Award, the Paul Harris Award, Rotary Roses for the Living, the President’s Medal from St. Norbert College, the DePere Silver Knight Beret, the Wisconsin Assembly Hometown Hero Award, the Green Bay Teachers’ School Bell Award, the Green Bay Mayor’s Civic Award, the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award and the B’nai Brith Brotherhood Award. With his wife, Fran, he shared the first Gaudium et Spes Award from the Green Bay Diocese, the William Heraly Award from United Way, the NSFRE Philanthropist Award and the Abbot Pennings Medal from St. Norbert Abbey.
He is survived by his wife, Fran; his children, Margaret, Yvonne, Mary Beth and Christopher; his eight grandchildren, Joseph, Rachel and Hannah Longstreet, Mary Frances Jahnke, Elizabeth, Stefani and Natalie Ribarchek and Noah Frigo; his brothers, Peter, Antonio, Camille, Paul and Rev. William Frigo, O.F.M. Cap.; three sisters, Sr. Marie Pasqualine Frigo, C.S.J., Therese Zappatelli and Pasqualina (John) Young, and more than 50 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Francis, Dominic and Pio; his sisters, Philomena, Christina and Mary Louise and his daughter, Barbara. Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the Ryan Funeral Home, 305 N.Tenth St., DePere. The Knights of Columbus will conduct a prayer service at 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Visitation will also be from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday at the gathering area of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in DePere. Mass of Resurrection will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. Memorials can be made in Leo’s memory to Paul’s Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul or the Samaritan Fund at St. Vincent Hospital.
http://thorn.law.wisc.edu/~draftingrecords/2001/assembly/joi
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