Bernard Gallino

IRON MOUNTAIN - Bernard L. "Bernie" Gallino, 82, of 1311 S. Kimberly Ave., Iron Mountain, died Sunday, March 16, 2008, at his home. Bernie was born Sept. 17, 1925, in Norway. He graduated from Vulcan High School in 1944. In his senior year of 1943, Bernie was drafted in the U.S. Army and his mother attended his high school graduation in 1944 to accept his diploma. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946 with the 9th Infantry Division 39th Regiment in the European Theater of War. Bernie attended Michigan State University from 1946 to 1949. He began employment with the VA Hospital in Iron Mountain in 1950 and retired in 1989 as the chief of fiscal services. Two of his 39 years of employment with the VA were spent at the VA Hospital in Miles City, Mont. Bernie married Mary Ellen Godin on Oct. 8, 1955, in Perkins, Mich. Bernie was a past volunteer probation officer, was a member of the Iron Mountain City Council for 12 years, served on his church parish council, and was secretary-treasurer of the Rotary Club. He currently was a member of St. Mary and St. Joseph Church for 53 years, the DAV, Elks Club, and the Iron Mountain Housing Commission. Bernie was a very avid gardener and loved spending the summer months tending to his vegetable garden; producing each summer a bounty of tomatoes for family and friends. The biggest loves in his life were his family, attending his grandchildren's sporting events, and Green Bay Packer football games. After attending his first Super Bowl in 1997 with his family, his parting words as he left the New Orleans Superdome were "I'll now die a happy man as I got to attend a Packer super bowl with my three children." He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary Ellen; daughters, Mary (Tom) Wendt; Ann (Michael) Sokop, and son, Joe (Carol) Gallino; seven grandchildren, Jacob and Jackie Sokop, Heather, Lindsay, Sheena, Vincent, and Angelo Gallino; a sister, Frances Gray and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Secondo and Rose Gallino, brothers, Jack and Victor Gallino and sisters, Angeline Johnson and Jeanne Menapace. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Mary and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Iron Mountain. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at the church. Fr. Daniel Zaloga will offer the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be in Cemetery Park. At the family's request, in lieu of flowers, contributions or donations may be made to the Carmelite Monastery, or Marquette General Home Health and Hospice, in care of Mrs. MaryEllen Gallino, 1311 Kimberly Ave., Iron Mountain, Mich., 49801 Condolences to the family of Bernard L. "Bernie" Gallino may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home with the funeral arrangements.