Francis 'Paunch' Gaietto

Francis “Paunch” Gaietto, 88, of Tiffin, passed away Tuesday evening, Sept. 8, 2015, at his home. He was born Oct. 29, 1926, in Tiffin, to John and Catherina (Gianola) Gaietto. He married Elizabeth “Betty” Etzkorn May 30, 1950, at St. Boniface Catholic Church, New Riegel. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Betty of Tiffin; two sons, Chuck (Jodi) Gaietto and Bill (Cheryl) Gaietto, both of Tiffin; a daughter, Donna (Brian) Iannantuono of Delaware; nine grandchildren, Joy Trevino, Ashley Clouse, Caitlin Gaietto, Jeremy Gaietto, Carson Gaietto, Mark (Heather) Gaietto, Kevin (Amy) Iannantuono, Jason (Neily) Iannantuono and Eric (Joanna) Iannantuono; 12 great-grandchildren, Sydney, Camrynn, Blake, Cutter, Charlee, Kaylee, Liliana, Scarlett, Zoli, Piper, Avri and Dominic; and a sister, Savina (Urban) Etzkorn of Venice, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Michael, Dominic, Bernard and Joseph; and three sisters, Mary Hossler, Angeline Waire and Evelyn Thorbahn. Paunch graduated in 1944 from Calvert High School and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a seaman. After returning from the war, he attended Ohio Northern University and then graduated from Tiffin University. He was an accountant at Union Carbide, co-owner of Gaietto’s Market and retired in 1982 from Lawson Milk Co. and in 1996 from U.S. Postal Service. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church and the New Riegel American Legion Post No. 354. Paunch enjoyed hunting and was a Detroit Tigers and Notre Dame fan. Family get-togethers were very important to Paunch and he loved his family. His Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Tiffin, with the Rev. Gary Walters officiating. A rosary will be prayed 20 minutes prior to Mass. Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Tiffin, with military honors being conducted by New Riegel American Legion Post No. 354. Friends may visit with the family 3-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at Hoffmann-Gottfried-Mack Funeral Home & Crematory, 236 S. Washington St., Tiffin, OH 44883, (419) 447-2424. A Christian wake service will begin at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary Catholic Church, Calvert Catholic Schools, Community Hospice Care or a charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences may be sent and the guestbook signed at www.hgmackfuneralhome.com.