Christopher G. "Chris" Rigoni, 85, of 5316 W. County Rd. D, Hurley, died early Saturday morning, June 13, 2009, with his family by his side, at Memorial Medical Center in Ashland. Chris was born Feb. 2, 1924, in Ironwood, Mich., son of the late Joseph and Mary (Vittone) Rigoni, attended Newport and St. Ambrose Grade Schools, and graduated from St. Ambrose High School in 1942. He then worked at the Iron County Creamery for one year prior to entering the U.S. Army on May 10, 1943 and proudly serving during World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations, most notably Leyte Gulf and the invasion of Okinawa. Following his honorable discharge on January 25, 1946, Chris returned to the area and operated the Y Tavern in Hurley for three years and worked in the Penokee Mine for twelve years. He moved to South Milwaukee where he was employed as a fabricator for Bucyrus-Erie Corp. for two years, then returned to Hurley and owned and operated the Cary Market for three years. He was also employed at the Hurley Foundry, Beloit-Hi-Bob in Ashland, Bessemer Plywood, Angelo Luppino, Inc. and Tri-State Homes, retiring in 1986. In his retirement, he was employed as custodian at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley. Chris was a member of St. Mary's Church in Hurley and the former mixed choir, and was a life member of Iron County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1580. Welding and fabricating were his hobbies, and he also enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, walking and biking. He was married to the former Mary Kathryn Corullo on Oct. 12, 1946, at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Bessemer, Mich., by the late Rev. Charles Swoboda. Mary survives. Also surviving are two sons, David (Pat), Lakeville, Minn., and James, Green Bay; two daughters, Pat Rigoni, Hilbert, and Kathy (Steve) Harma, Ironwood; four grandchildren, Carli Rigoni, Grand Rapids, Minn., Daniel Rigoni, Hurley, Kari (Erik) Dennis, Rochester Hills, Mich., and Kristin (Brian) Curry, West Bloomfield, Mich.; three great-grandchildren, Chance Rigoni, and Reid and Leah Dennis; a brother, William, Venice, Fla.; sisters-and-brothers-in-law, Ruth Rigoni, Kimball, Vicky Takala and Lenore Corullo, both of Bessemer, Cutso (Phyllis) Corullo, Bessemer, and Peter (Marge) Fin, Minocqua; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Chris was preceded in death by a brother, Alfred. Out of respect for Chris's wishes, cremation has taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, June 16, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, with the Rev. Michael Hayden, celebrant. Full military rites will be accorded by the combined Hurley American Legion Post 58 and Iron County VFW Post 1580 Honor Guard. A luncheon reception will immediately follow in the parish hall. Relatives and friends may call at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Iron County Food Pantry, 72 Michigan Ave., Montreal, Wis. 54550 To view Chris's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.