John Paul Gagliardo

John Paul Gagliardo, 91, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away on October 2, 2004 at Jordan?s Nursing Home in Bridgman. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, October 6, 2004, at St. Bernard?s Catholic Church, 555 Delaware, Benton Harbor with Fr. Bill Jacobs, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma. Friends may call on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. with a Rosary at 7:30 at Kerley- Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. John and St. Bernard?s Parish or Jordan?s Nursing Home. Friends are invited to send the family a condolence message or sign the guestbook on line at starks-menchnger.com. John was born to Michael and Rosalia (Tragna) Gagliardo on November 7, 1912 in Chicago, IL. John was a shoe cobbler for fifty-two years, which he started doing when he was eight years old. He married Molly Tragna on October 13, 1935 in South Bend, IN. There have been four generations of the Gagliardo family that have been making shoes. John is also a member of Knights of Columbus and has been an usher for St. John and Bernard?s Parish for over fifty years. John is survived by his children, Michael Gagliardo of St. Joseph and Rosalie (Stephen) Anzalone of St. Joseph; sister Ann LaPiana of Chicago; grandchildren-Steven (Lori) Anzalone, Gina Anzalone, John (Wendy) Anzalone, Michael (Tracy) Gagliardo, and Ann (Michael) Worden. John was preceded in death by his wife, Molly Tragna on August 29, 2003; his parent; two sisters, Rose and Jennie; and two brothers, Sam and Michael.