Obituary: John Frank Giomi

A Mass of Christian burial for former Nevada Assemblyman John Frank Giomi, 83, will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Yerington.

A Rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Holy Family Catholic Church.

Mr. Giomi died June 17, 2000 at Washoe Medical Center. He was born March 6, 1917, in Mason Valley to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Giomi. He attended rural schools in the valley, graduating from Yerington High School. He was a 1941 graduate of the University of Nevada Reno with a degree in agriculture.

He married Jere Patten Sept. 15, 1950.

Mr. Giomi went to work for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942 and sent overseas in 1944. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was taken prisoner Dec. 16, being liberated by the English and later separated from the service Dec. 21, 1945.

He and his brother Joe purchased the Central Mercantile in Smith Valley, selling the store in 1954 but keeping the John Deere and farm machinery operation until spring 1969. He then opened the Ace Hardware business in Yerington and operated it along with several family members until his retirement in 1995.

He was elected to the Nevada State Legislature in 1954 and served in the Assembly until 1963. he was speaker pro-tem in 1961-63.

He was a volunteer fireman in Smith Valley for 25 years and also served on the District Fire Board. He served on the Lyon County Drug and Alcohol Council and on the Yerington Senior Center Board. He also served on the Lyon County Draft Board for 25 years, taught agriculture to returning WW II veterans and was among those who helped secure land and building funds for the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. He was recognized in 1998 for 52 years of service to the VFW and he was a member of the Yerington and Smith Valley Rotary Clubs for a combined 47 years. He was also a Little League coach for six years and umpired many games.

He was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Edith and Bob Golightly and a stillborn son.

Among his survivors are his wife of 50 years, Jere and daughter Patti Dohoney and son Joe, all of Yerington; brother Joe of Smith Valley, son John of Fallbrook, Calif. and four grandchildren.

Burial will be at the family plot at Valley View Cemetery in Yerington.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Yerington Rotary Club Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 281, Yerington 89447 or the Smith Valley Rotary Club Scholarship Fund, 59 Roundtree Lane, Smith 89430.

Freitas-Rupracht Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.