Egidio Vanni

Egidio Vanni passed away peacefully at home on November 21, 2023. He was ready to dance again with his lovely wife of 62 years, Rena, who recently passed away on October 7, 2023.
Visitation will be held at 9:00 am on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Catholic Church (510 E. 1st St) in Ankeny, Iowa, immediately followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 am, and then lunch in the church hall. Mass will be live streamed at www.OLIH.org/funeral-announcements
Egidio was born on June 5, 1934, in Piandelagotti, Italy. He grew up helping his father make shoes. As he grew older, he yearned for the "American Dream". The quota to the States was full, so at age 22, he traveled alone to Nova Scotia, Canada, with a suitcase full of dreams. Soon after arriving, he headed for Montreal and began washing dishes for the phone company cafeteria. Egidio was not fond of the chef's pasta and proceeded to demonstrate how to make great Italian sauce like his mother had taught him. This resulted in an immediate promotion to cook.
While attending a wedding in the United States, Egidio saw the love of his life, Rena. He had spotted Rena a number of years earlier when she was visiting his village, and he proclaimed to his best friend that he was going to marry her someday. Egidio moved to Ankeny, Iowa, and they married on her birthday on April 22, 1961.
Egidio caulked large buildings throughout Iowa for several years, including at the University of Iowa, and took pride in pointing out the skyscrapers in Des Moines he had worked on, using only a rope swing. Later, he joined John Deere where he had a successful 29-year career, manufacturing cotton pickers until his retirement in 1994.
Egidio loved spending time with Rena, and they spent many nights on the dance floor. At Rena's urging, Egidio began playing golf around age 50, and it quickly became an obsession. He was thrilled when he made a hole-in-one. Egidio also enjoyed playing cards, telling stories with his cousin and best friend Eugenio, watching Iowa football, and spending time with close friends in Iowa and at their second home at the Apache Wells Resort in Mesa, Arizona. He was a member of the Vittoria Lodge and the Highwood Bocce Club, and a parishioner of Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Catholic Church.
For Egidio, family was everything. Egidio's proudest accomplishment was coming to America to create a better life for himself and his family for generations.
He is survived by his three daughters, Delinda Righi, Jolene Robbins (Marty), and Angela Fontana (Anthony); grandchildren, Gina Righi, Crista Schafer (Dan), Spencer Robbins, Grant Robbins, Andrew Fontana, Alexandra Fontana, and Amelia Fontana; great-granddaughter, Madalyn Leinen; sister, Adua Fugaccia (Tony); as well as a wonderful and large extended family.
Egidio is preceded in death by his wife, Rena; parents, Aldo Vanni and Delinda Stefani; and son-in-law, Steven Righi.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Catholic Church.