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Mario Ifill Obituary
He was born in El Paso, Texas, June 17, 1957, to Roberto and Claudia Ifill. After his father transferred to Fort Eustis, Va., he began his education in the Newport News Public School system, graduating from Denbigh High School in 1977.
It was during his time in Virginia that he gained a passion for cars, especially muscle cars, and his cherished 1965 Pontiac GTO convertible, remains.
He joined the U.S. Army in October 1980, spending 11 years as a tank commander and married Gabriele Sohnel. Upon his discharge from the army as a Sgt., he began a career with the MWR Auto Craft Shop.
He was a member of the Road Runner Car Club in Germany where he could fulfill his passion for cars and drag racing.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Yolanda Ifill.
He is survived by his wife Gabby; father, Roberto and mother, Claudia Ifill; brother, Ricardo Ifill and wife, Tonya; nephew, Ernesto Ifill (Yolanda); niece, Melina Ifill (Ricardo); stepdaughters, Jasmin and Vanessa Betzold; stepson, Mario Imhof; niece, Petra Bellamy; and a host of relatives and friends.
Arrangements are under the care of Altmeyer Funeral Home, 12893 Jefferson Ave., Newport News, where a viewing will be held on Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, from 6 to 8 p.m. A graveside funeral service will be held Nov. 10, 2009, at 11a.m. at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veteran's Cemetery at Hampton Roads in Suffolk, Va. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Mario Ifill
Odys
December 29, 2024
I went through my documents today and found the old title of my 1986 Pontiac Trans Am, that i bought back in 2006. I still have this car and Mario was the previous owner: Thank you for the car. RIP
Gene Morrison
November 18, 2009
I will miss all the jokes and fun that was had at the A.S.C
DANNY DEL VALLE
November 18, 2009
We all missed you old friend, RIP.
LLOYD JONES
November 18, 2009
MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL THE FAMILY
MARIO WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WE
WORK TOGETHER A THE AUTO SKILLS FOR
YEARS SIDE BY SIDE THAT LAST DAY WE
JOKE AND TALK CRAZY SLUFF AND EAT KFC
CANT BELIVE HES GONE BE MISSED A WORK
BY EVERYONE REST IN PREACE
Jim and Myrtle Council
November 12, 2009
Robert, Claudia and family our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief,may your memories bring you comfort and peace.
Larry and Piola Lynch
November 10, 2009
Roberto and Claudia, my heart goes out to you and your family. May God comfort you in your time of sorrow and grant you peace.
November 10, 2009
Roberto and Claudia, my heart goes out to you and your family. May God comfort you in your time of sorrow and grant you peace. Larry and Piola Lynch. Newport News, Va
Petra Bellamy
November 10, 2009
No farewell words were spoken
no time to say goodbye
Mario was gone before we knew it
and only God knows why."
A POEM IN HONOR OF MARIO
IN OUR HEARTS
We thought of you with love today,
But that is nothing new,
We thought about you yesterday,
And days before that too,
We think of you in silence,
We often speak your name,
Now all we have is memories,
And your picture in a frame,
Your memory is our keepsake,
With which we'll never part,
God has you in his keeping,
We have you in our heart.
We Love you
Petra& Jasmin
Lesa Parker
November 9, 2009
Dear Ifill family i've heard alot about mario but never got to meet him yolanda talked so much about him my heart goes out to the entire family may God Bless you all Love Lesa (yolanda girlfriend) Columbia S.C
Thomas Reinshagen
November 9, 2009
Roberto, Claudia Ifill and Family:
I was more than surprised to hear of Mario’s passing. My wife and knew him from his teenage years to today. My son Big Joe, Mario and the others would always hang out at our house, I think for the food mostly, and Mario always had a smile. When he would come back to the states from Germany on vacation he would always stop by the say Hi. We would talk about cars, Germany and just about anything. He will be greatly missed but warmly remembered. Mario may God be with you and your family.
Tom & Rita Reinshagen
November 9, 2009
Roberto, Claudia Ifill and Family:
My heart aches at the news of Mario's passing. Always know that you family will remain in my thoughts and prayers. I pray that your precious memories of Mario will sustain you today, tomorrow, and forever.
Blessings, Ivy D. Lee
Lorena Erbure
November 9, 2009
To Ifill and Peralta Garcia´s familiy a very hard hug in these difficult times .... Mario you were a very special person and although our meeting was very short you are in our hearts. We miss you.
Eddie Accardi
November 9, 2009
Dear Ifill Family, Just recently Mario and I were making plans for him to come home and get a job at Northrop Grumman. We would talk for hours. It was Mario, Marvin,Mike. big Joe and me (eddie) the best of friends. When ever he was in town we would get together, take a ride to Marvins and just hang out like we did as kids. You will be missed by all of us. Gone but not forgotten, You will always be a part of our pack. Miss you, Eddie Accardi
Walter Jones
November 8, 2009
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
November 8, 2009
Dear Ifill Family,
I too went to High school with Mario, class of 77, and remember him as kind, a good friend to all and always had the best smile. We also recently re-connected on Facebook where we realized we have been living 20 minutes away from each other for about 20 years now-he in Mannheim and me in Heidelberg. I'm sure our paths crossed somewhere in the military community but our looks have changed since High School. I will always remember Mario as a kind-hearted soul. May his friends happy rememberences bring some small relief to the sadness you must feel at this time. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Linda Ludi Shahan, Heidelberg Germany
Mike Craft
November 8, 2009
Mario, It is a honer to call you frind. So sad to see you leave .Reflections of the past Spinning tires ,Takeing trips,Good times.I know well meat agin but tell then, Ill Be thinking hese my frend
Lloyd Johnson Sr.
November 7, 2009
Mario was a good friend all through high school. We kept in touch online thru facebook. A few months ago I sent him an old pic of he and I at my 18th birthday party. We both had our large Afro's then. His death was a shock to me and my wife. He is loved and will be missed.
Joe Davis
November 7, 2009
My condolences. Dr. Joe Davis, San Diego, CA
Josefina Peralta
November 7, 2009
Mario was an angel that touched my life two years ago. We shared our experiences, thoughts and expectations. He suddenly gone without announcement, but I know he is still here with me. We built a dream, and dreams never die.
November 7, 2009
I too first met Mario while living on Ft. Eustis in 1975, he was such a funny and funloving person. After all of these years his smile is what I remember most.
Rest in peace Mario.
Susan Harvey Cherrie
Pat Cherrie
November 7, 2009
I was living on Fort Eustis when I first met Mario. He had this big Afro and big smile. I'm happy that I was able to know a person like Mario. Kind, personable and always smiling. It was almost 40 years since we last spoke to each other before we reconnected through Facebook. He was still the same guy..smiling and into all kinds of different activities. He's one of the good guys and he will be missed.
Rest in Peace, Mario.
Ricardo Ifill
November 6, 2009
Thanx to all friends of my brother for words of kindness, may God bless all. Mario`s work is done ,, missed but not forgotten.
Nicole, Ian, Justine&Annabelle Robinson
November 6, 2009
Mario was the godfather of my children, we are very hurt over this loss. I met Mario in Germany and we grew very close over the years. He was a wonderful man. My heart hurts and I can not describe the pain i feel about loosing such a great friend in our life. We terribly miss him and will never forget him, he has touched our hearts and lifes. We love you Mario, always.
Stan Winter
November 6, 2009
My brother and I went to high school with Mario and he was known by all to be a good guy. I recently reestablished contact with him through Face book and found the same guy with the same smile I remembered. I know he will be missed by many and feel blessed to have known him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family now to have the memories of the good times with Mario eventually override the pain of your loss.
God Bless.
The Winter Family
Harry Bloch
November 6, 2009
My heartfelt thoughts, prayers and condolences to Gabby and the IFILL Family. Mario was a friend in high school and has always been know as a friend's friend. He and his smile will be missed. Death is a part of life and we who continue to live on earth will carry wonderful memories of Mario for ever. His life and memory will always be a blessing.
Regards,
HB
November 6, 2009
Robert and Claudia, The Kietlinski Family send you our Deepest condolances, What a Loss we all who knew Mario as neighbor and Friend in his younger years, , Feel for you both and Mario's beloved wife, Our prayers are with you. Friend Always
Jackie, Pamela and Arthur Kietlinski
Wayne and Angee Torrence
November 6, 2009
Our thoughts and Prayers are with the family and friends. May God give you comfort during this time...
Harold and Monika
November 6, 2009
To the Ifill family: We want to tell you that it was absolute joy to know your son and brother and to have Mario as Harold's life long friend. Harold feels as though he's lost a true brother, not just a friend, but realizes Mario will live in our hearts forever. His presence was just that powerful and no better friend exists as his multitude of friends can attest to. His voice, his face, his laugh, his touch are but a memory to us now, but his spirit remains.
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