Eugene Peter Varalli, 83, a longtime Gile, Wis. resident, died Monday afternoon, Sept. 21, 2009, at Sky View Nursing Center in Hurley, where he had resided for the past nine years.      He was born May 20, 1926, in Gile, the son of the late Peter and Joanna (Bracket) Varalli. He attended Coolidge School in Gile, Roosevelt School in Montreal, St. Mary's School in Hurley, and graduated from Lincoln High School in Hurley in 1943. He then entered NYA School in Antigo and was employed at Allis-Chalmers in Milwaukee.      Gene entered the U.S. Army in 1944 and served in the 124th RCT, 31st Infantry Division in New Guinea and the Phillippines, receiving, among numerous medals and citations, two Bronze Battle Stars.      Following his honorable discharge in 1946, he returned to Gile and worked at Varalli's Garage in Cary for six months and at Varalli's Grocery Store in Gile, later purchasing the grocery store from his parents and operating it until 1970. He then was employed as a meatcutter at Erspamer's Supermarket in Hurley for 14 years and at Carlson's Supermarket in downtown Ironwood, Mich. for eight years, retiring in 1992.      Gene was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, Hurley American Legion Post No. 58, where he served as past commander in 1951-1952, Iron County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1580, and Hurley Knights of Columbus Council No. 669, having served as past president. He was also a member and former officer of the Gile Flowage Association (GIFA) and was a past member and Chef De Gare of the 40 et 8 Voiture of Mercer and Hurley. He was an avid reader.      On June 17, 1950, he was married to the former Elizabeth J. "Betty" Bruno at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley by the Rev. Louis Bracket. Betty preceded him in death on June 10, 2000.       Surviving are two daughters, Mary Jo (David) Wetherbee, Bath, Maine, and Bruna Mae (Randy) Claypool, Tuttle, Okla.; and three grandchildren, Katherine and Sarah Wetherbee and Eugene Joe Claypool.      Besides his parents and wife, Gene was preceded in death by his step-mother, Rose Varalli, in 1988.      A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Sept. 25, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, with the Rev. Louis Bracket, celebrant, and the Rev. Michael Hayden, concelebrant.      Rite of Committal and interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurley, where full military honors will be accorded by the combined Hurley American Legion Post 58 and Iron Co. VFW Post 1580 Honor Guard.      Luncheon will be served in the parish hall immediately upon return from the cemetery.      Friends may call at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, where the parish rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.      Pallbearers will be Hurley American Legion and Iron Co. VFW members.      To view Gene's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.      Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood