Rudolph George Giannoni

Rudolph "Rudy" Giannoni, 92 years old, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 23rd. Dad was born to Santi & Niobe Giannoni in So. Dos Palos, April 18, 1923. He attended schools in Dos Palos, after graduation he went to work for the Southern Pacific Railroad.

He enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1943 and was on crew of a B-17 Bomber. Dad shipped over to England on his 21st birthday as a Staff Sergeant and left waist gunner. On his seventh mission over Misburg, Germany, June 17, 1944 he was shot down and spent the remainder of the war as a POW in Poland. In the last months of captivity he was sent on the "Black Death March", surviving the coldest winter on record at the time. He was liberated in May of 1945 and returned to US command.

He met the love of his life, Jeanne Rinaudo, at the Rainbow Ballroom in late 1945, marrying on May 12, 1946. They were married for almost 60 years and had 3 children; Debra, Gary and Cheryl.

Dad spent 37 years as a valuable, trusted salesman and colleague with Kraft Foods Co., retiring in 1984. He maintained friendships with many colleagues and customers until his death.

One of his passions was involvement with his three children and their activities including baton/ majorette for Debbi, athletics for Gary, and gymnastics for Cheryl. He served as the McLane Babe Ruth Baseball League and Mc'Lders Booster Club President. Later as a grandfather he followed all the grandchildren, whether it was sports or cheerleading for the Giannoni, Herr, or Johnson grandkids.

In retirement, Dad volunteered his time for many fundraisers at Gary's schools (Papa G's Pasta Feed) and his granddaughter's schools in NorCAL. He also began to speak at schools and service clubs in the Central Valley, his theme: "Experiences as a POW in World War II ". Shortly before his death he gave one last presentation, his 72nd, at "the Monday Book Club at the Clovis Veteran's Memorial District".

Dad loved his VA Central Valley. He became a member about twenty years ago, of the Fresno Chapter #1 of Ex-POWs, Purple Heart Chapter, American Legion Post 509 & 4, and the Fresno Veteran's Day Parade Organizing Committee. Lasting relationships developed with the amazing staff of the Central Valley VA Hospital. He led a fundraising/organizing drive with his Ex-POW Chapter to erect the Ex-POW monument at the VAH that was dedicated, April, 2009. This was a signature moment in dad's life.

Through Gary's baseball, Dad and Mom developed lifetime bonds with the Wiggins, Waer's, Shannon's, and Dibuduo's and had years of fun together. In May, 2000 Dad returned to Europe for the first time visiting the route taken when he was shot down. He returned to the site of the POW camp, Stalag Luft IV. In 2013, he was part of the first Valley Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. and the World War II Memorial.

Special recognitions on his 90 th birthday included a flight in a B-17 Bomber over Fresno, "Key to the City of Fresno", and a televised interview at the family home for the NBC Nightly News. On Memorial Day, 2013, Dad received the French Legion of Honor Medal at the SF Presidio. In June of 2015 VA Central California Health Care System awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Rudy was preceded in death by his parents, brothers' Lawrence and Mario, sister, Lola Grove, and wife, Jeanne. Survivors are his sister, Caroline Jennings; daughter Debra Herr (Ken) and daughters, Candice Herr McCarty (Devan), and Jaclyn Herr Rivera (Richard); son, Gary (Diane) and children Melissa Hardie Bryan (John), Teresa Giannoni Nulty (Ray Escobar), Gary II (Dulce), and Daniel; and daughter, Cheryl Giannoni and daughters, Meghan Johnson White (Nick), and Brittany Johnson. Dad was loved by each of his seventeen great-grandchildren.

Thank you to Dad's medical providers over the past 10years; Dr. Sundrani, Dr. Manjal, Dr. Naggar, Dr. Aaronson, and Dr. Schiff. Dad received exceptional support from health care staff at the Fresno Heart Hospital CEC, and the Central Valley VA Hospital CLC Hospice Unit.

Visitation will be held at Lisle Funeral Home on Sunday October 11, 2015 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Funeral Services will be held at New Covenant Community Church, 1744 E. Nees Ave., Fresno on Tuesday October 13, 2015 at 10:00 am followed by burial with full military honors at Clovis District Cemetery. A luncheon reception following the burial will held at Belmont Country Club, 8253 E. Belmont Ave., Fresno.