Wildo Di Iulio

Lt. Col. Wildo F. Di Iulio U.S.A.F. Retired Bossier City, LA-Wildo Francis Di Iulio (?D? to family and friends) died Friday, March 6, 2009. He faced several health challenges in his last 12 years and now enjoys a restored body and spirit in the presence of Our Lord. His parents immigrated from Capistrano, Italy, and settled in Iron Mountain, Michigan, where he was born in 1923. His father came to this country to make his fortune working in the iron mines with plans to return to Italy. The stock market crash and the Great Depression changed all that and the family was unable to return to the ?Old Country?. They became United States citizens and claimed this new country as their own. After high school graduation and a short time working as a tool and die maker at the Chrysler Motor Company in Detroit, ?D? joined the Army Air Force, and then the Air Force when it formally split from the Army. His 30-year military career included stateside command of U.S. medical troop trains in WWII; teaching medical and surgical techniques at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas; medical supply officer in Korea and post-war Japan; radar navigator on B-29s, B-47s, KC-97s, KC-135s, and B-52s; assisting in the establishment of U-Tapao Air Force Base in Thailand as a staging base for the Strategic Air Command?s B-52 bombers during the Vietnam War; serving as a member of the Air Force?s Inspector General?s team, and his final assignment as Chief Scheduling Officer for the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale A.F.B in Louisiana. He retired from the Air Force in 1973. His Master?s Degree in Business served him in good stead as he went on to a second career as Manager of Heart O? Bossier Shopping Center in Bossier City, LA, for another 20 years. He was hired in that position by John Morgan of St. Simons Island, Georgia, who became like a 4th son to ?D? and Rosalie. He met the love of his life Rosalie Vierra when he was a dental supply officer stationed at Ft. Ord, California and she was a dental assistant at the base. They married at Carmel-by-the-Sea on Rosalie?s beautiful Monterey peninsula February 28, 1946, and were blessed with 5 much loved children. His interests, outside of his deep love for and pride in his family, included good food and good wine (?Salute!?), music and dancing, and especially car restoration. Many hours were spent restoring a 1930 Ford Model A and several early Ford Mustangs. His sons learned about cars at his side and carry on the hobby he taught them. His loved ones were also recipients of sweet and clever poems he wrote to celebrate joyous occasions. His faith was important to him always; he and his wife were parishioners and founding parents of Christ the King Catholic Church and School in Bossier City. He was preceded in death by his parents Vincenzo and Adalgisa Di Iulio, his son-in-law Stan Brooks, his sister Fedora and her husband Milburn Fowler, his brother-in-law Howard Johnson, and his nephew Don Johnson. He will live on in the memories of Rosalie, his wife of 63 years, and their children Ronald (Linda) Di Iulio, Dr. Diana (Dr. Steve) D. Bienvenu, Cynthia D. Brooks, Tom (Kim) Di Iulio, and Brian (former wife Laurie) Di Iulio. He will also be missed by his grandchildren Anthony and Angela Di Iulio, Dr. John and Ryan Bienvenu, Adrienne and Phillip Brooks, Christina (Adam) D. Clements, Katherine and Kendall Di Iulio, as well as great-grandsons Gage and Chase Di Iulio. His sisters Norma D. Johnson and Dina D. Isoz grieve for their beloved brother as do many other relatives and close friends throughout the country. His family particularly wishes to thank neurologist Dr. Richard Zweig of LSUHSC (always called ?Dr. Gise? by ?D?!). Dr. Zweig?s expertise in Parkinson?s Disease and compassionate care slowed the disease?s progression and allowed him to continue to enjoy his family and friends until this last hospitalization. The family also wishes to thank Debbie Tate and Tangie Lane, as well as Dr. Roy Fleniken and some special staff at the Northwest Louisiana War Veterans Home. The family will be eternally grateful to the medical staff and other employees of the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center and the LSUHSC residents and fellows rotating at the VA hospital; both ?D? and his family received the very best of care and support there in this final illness. Visitation will be held at Boone Funeral Home Wednesday, March 11 from 5 p.m.to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Philip Michiels at Christ the King Catholic Church on Thursday March 12 at 1:00 p.m. followed by burial at Rose-Neath Cemetery in Bossier City, Louisiana. Memorials may be made to LSUHS Foundation ? Parkinson?s Resource, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, La 71103 or Christ the King Catholic Church, 425 McCormick St., Bossier City, La 71111. Honorary pallbearers are brothers-in-law Richard and Leslie Vierra and Claude Johnson; James DeChalk; Bob Broullier; Ray Burgess; E.C. Fulgham; Bennie Jew; John Morgan; and Dr. Richard Zweig. Online condolences may be made at www.boonefh.com . Boone Funeral Home 742-5361