John A. Bignoli

John A.Bignoli was named after his Italian father, Giovanni, which is Italian for John. He was very proud of his Italian heritage. His father and uncles all came to America in the early 1900s. His mother's family came from Italy also. They settled in New Jersey, which is where Dad was born. His mother grew bay leaves and made her own pasta. She was a wonderful cook. He especially liked her soups and lasagna. Many folks call him Mr. B. because it's easy to remember and easy to say. He has other names too. His grandchildren call him Poppa John. His children all call him Dad. His younger cousins call him Soldier Johnny. His troops called him Sergeant Bignoli. John joined the Air Force in his twenties. He was a very handsome man and dedicated soldier who, after WWII, continued his military career for a total of 24 years. He was an enlisted man, and worked up the ranks to eventually retire as a Senior Master Sergeant. During WWII he was a radio operator and gunner on Bomber planes. He flew 35 combat missions in Europe, and flew 162 supply missions in combat zones of Korea. He received the following awards: The Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, the USAF Commendation Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, Air Offensive Europe with 4 Battle Stars, Korean Service Medal with 7 Battle Stars and others. He was a member of the 489th and 445th Bomb Group, which was awarded the French Croix de Guerre. The men he supervised all held him in high regard because of his honesty, fairness and good nature. After the war he was an instructor until he retired from the Military at Keesler Air Force Base, in Biloxi, Mississippi. He was a resident of the Gulf Coast since 1962. After leaving the service, John worked several jobs, but his favorite was selling souvenirs to shops up and down the Gulf Coast. He was especially fond of traveling to Battleship Park, on Mobile Bay, to sell to the USS Alabama Battleship. Miniature cannons, Pooka bead necklaces and postcards were some of his best selling items. John married a wonderful woman, Anna Louise Peterson. Quiet, loving and understanding, Louise was the perfect counterpart to John's Italian temper. She was in the Women's Air Corps when they met, but happily became a full time mother who devoted her energy to her family. Her nickname was Petey. They had 5 children, who now live in Long Beach, Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri and Nebraska. John and 'Petey' had a fairy tale love and romance that is rare to find now. It lasted far beyond her death in 1986. John learned how to cook for himself, wash and iron his clothes, clean house and generally take care of himself without 'Petey'. His favorite things to cook were potato and onion soup, and spaghetti sauce with angel hair pasta. And his favorite dessert to make was a banana split with all the toppings, or a root beer float! He quickly became known for his homemade chocolate chip cookies. This was his calling card on many occasions. His neighbors, doctor's offices, family, strangers and trash collector all got these cookies pretty regularly. His trash can was the only one on the block that was walked back up the driveway and left right side up, with the lid on. That suited him well, because he liked things orderly and neat, and liked to look nice. Everyone who knew John remembers him best in his white short-sleeve shirt and black pants with a sharp crease. He also enjoyed music, all things colorful or interesting, and had a great appreciation for the beauty and awe in nature. New acquaintances usually remembered John best for his good humor and 'little Johnny jokes". It is with a mixture of sadness and joy that we say goodbye to our 'Soldier Johnny', as he joins the ranks of our heavenly Father. John was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Rose Bignoli and step-father, John Spadevicchia, from North Bergen, New Jersey. John's four brothers, Walter and Ted Bignoli, James and Anthony Spadevicchia also preceded him in death. He is survived by his 5 children, Mike Bignoli, Tony Bignoli, Mary Miljak, Joe Bignoli, Kathy Higgins, and grandchildren, Mary Catherine Hearn 22, Austin Bignoli 17, Sean Higgins 19, Lauren Higgins 17, and Grant Higgins 13. Visitation will be 6-8pm, Tuesday May 29th at the Biloxi Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. Liturgical services will begin at 10am Wednesday May 30th at The Sacred Heart Catholic Church in D'Iberville. There will be a graveside service with full military honors after the church service, at D'Iberville Memorial Park on LeMoyne Boulevard in D'Iberville. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to "The Lord is My Help" food pantry, in Ocean Springs, MS, whose kind volunteers brought Dad a smile and a home-delivered lunch every day during the last year he was in his home.