Alfred S. DeSimone, 90, of Kenosha, passed away Tuesday, February 3, 2009, at Brookside Care Center surrounded by his loving family.
Born May 7, 1918, in Kenosha, he was the son of the late Joseph and Maria (Cavaretta) DeSimone. He was a lifelong resident of Kenosha and graduated from Kenosha High School. He attended Carthage College, received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and later a Master’s Degree from Northwestern University in Illinois.
On June 20, 1942, he married Bernice Nelson at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Kenosha.
Since 1948, he worked for AXA-Equitable Advisors. In 1998, he was awarded Equitable’s National Honor Agent Award, which is given in recognition of production performance and civic and charitable activities in the community, chosen from a field force of over 8,000.
A 50-year member of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, he was also past president of the Holy Rosary Holy Name Society; founder and 1st president of the Rotary Club of Kenosha West, Rotary District 0627 District Governor, in 2005 he was honored by the Rotary Club of Kenosha West on their 100th anniversary; a Regent at the University of Wisconsin for 7 years, and he also served as Chairman of the Board at the old St. Catherine’s Hospital. He was a Charter Life Underwriter (CLU), receiving his Professional Designation in 1960, was proud to have been an organizer of Kenosha Night at the Brewer’s, was charter president of the newly founded University of Wisconsin-Parkside Foundation whose first project was a $5.4 million housing project on campus, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Italian Program, was national president of the University of Wisconsin Alumni Association at Madison, and was appointed to the Board of Directors of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Foundation. In 1989, he received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Bradford High School Alumni Association.
Surviving are his wife of 66 years, Bernice of Kenosha; a son, David (Carol) DeSimone of Milwaukee, WI; three granddaughters: Dr. June (Dr. Martin Balish) DeSimone of Portland, OR, Susan (Kirk) Parker of Scottsdale, AZ, and Amy DeSimone of San Francisco, CA; five great-grandchildren: Angela, Lucy and Josie Balish, and Nicholas and Matthew Parker; a sister, Vera Cooper of Northbrook, IL; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by a son, Larry DeSimone; three brothers, Albert, Sam and William DeSimone; and two sisters, Florence Palmer and Eva Luebke.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 7, from Proko Funeral Home at 9:30AM. Mass to be celebrated at Our Lady of The Holy Rosary Catholic Church at 10:00AM. Entombment will follow at All Saints Mausoleum. Visitation will be held on Friday at Proko Funeral Home from 4:00PM until 7:00PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church would be appreciated by the family.