Gene Nicolini

Nov. 10, 1914 – Sept. 5, 1991

Mishawaka – Gene Nicolini, 76, of Wheatstone Drive and Diamond Lake, Edwardsburg, died at 5:40 a.m. today in his Mishawaka home. Mr. Nicolini owned Valley Beverage Co. from 1940 until retiring in 1979. He was born Nov. 10, 1914 in South Bend and was a lifelong area resident. On Nov. 27, 1937 in Mishawaka, he married Martha J. Kunce. She survives with four daughters, Rebecca A. Kendro of Honolulu, Marilyn L. Schmitt and Susan K. Vannoni, both of Mishawaka, and Anne M. Hepler of Jacksonville, Fla.; two sons John M. of Mishawaka and G. Nick of Granger; 17 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three sisters, Clara Nicolini and Rosemary Rooney, both of Ventura, Calif. and Gertrude Hedges of San Diego; and a brother Lewis F., of Tucson AZ. He was a member of DeAmicis Club, Fraternal order of Eagles Aerie 2083 and was a charter member of Wanderer Conservation Club.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Joseph Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger. Friend may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in Hahn-DeVos Funeral Home, where a parish rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County Inc. or the church.