RAYMOND GISCHIA

Raymond R Gischia of Gulfport, Mississippi, formerly of Neenah, Wisconsin and Waupaca Wisconsin, age 92, died Wednesday, November 5th, 2014 at his home in the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi following a brief illness. He was born October 18th, 1922 in Negaunee, Michigan; son of Antonio and Cecelia (Castello) Gischia. Raymond served with the 331st Infantry Regiment, 83rd Army Division in Europe during WWII from 1943 to 1946. Following the war he married Rita Ann Marie DeGrave, February 15th, 1947 in Kingsford, Michigan. Soon the couple moved to Neenah, Wisconsin where Raymond began his career with Kimberly Clark Corporation. His public service and volunteerism began with the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors and has continued throughout his life. Upon his retirement from Kimberly Clark in 1986 Ray and Rita enjoyed many travels, eventually settling in Gulfport, Mississippi for the winters and Waupaca, Wisconsin for the summers. Shortly after Rita's death in 1999 Ray moved to the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi. He was a docent at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC while evacuated there for five years following hurricane Katrina. They were charter members of St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Neenah, later of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church of Waupaca. Raymond is survived by two daughters and two sons-in law: Rae Marie and Robert Sipin of Appleton, and Michelle and Robert Buech of Neenah; two sons and a daughter-in-law: Greg and Carol Gischia of Seabrook, South Carolina; and Stephen Gischia of Eau Clair: five grandchildren; Kerri and Guy Coons of Appleton; Andrew and Stephanie Christensen of Neenah; Heather and Kelly Yule of Roberts; Joshua Gischia of Eau Clair; Gregory Gischia Jr. of Charleston, South Carolina: five great grandchildren; Benjamin and Brady Coons; Drew Anne, Kamryn and Brekin Christensen. Mr. Gischia was preceded in death by his wife Rita; Parents, Antonio and Cecelia Gischia, brother Carl and Eldora Gischia, and seven sisters and brothers-in-law. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 A.M. Friday, November 14th, 2014 at Saint Gabriel Catholic Church, 900 Geiger St., Neenah. A visitation will be held Thursday, November 13, 2014 from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at Neenah's Westgor Funeral Home, and again on Friday at the church from 10:30 A.M. until the hour of service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice. The family wishes to extend a thank you to Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, Boyington Rehabilitation Facility, and Gulfport Hospice of Light. Additional special thanks and gratitude to the exceptional staff and wonderful friends of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi.