Daniel F. Lattanzi

Daniel F. Lattanzi

Daniel F. Lattanzi, 96, died peacefully on Feb. 5, 2023, in Ypsilanti, MI.

Born on April 25, 1926, he was the son of the late Daniel Lattanzi and Mary Wuckich. Raised in Brockton, he attended Blythe Township High School and then graduated from Tamaqua High School in 1944 when they merged.

After his 1944-48 service during and after World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he was an aerial gunner on a B29 and attained the rank of sergeant, he then moved to Tamaqua, where he worked as a butcher at the Acme and met the love of his life, Marion Maff. They wed in 1950 and raised their four children in Tamaqua. He worked for many years as part owner, shop supervisor, and salesman at Maff Motors until his retirement.

He loved playing golf, traveling, and flying small airplanes, as his love of flying that started when he was in the service led him to become a pilot in his forties. Marion would sometimes join him on flights, reluctantly but lovingly, but loved seeing the country by car with him. He had a vast array of stories from his time in the military, golfing, and his adventures flying that he loved to share with anyone who would listen.

He was preceded in death by his beloved Marion after 66 years of marriage; his parents; his sister, Margaret Lattanzi; and his brother, Joseph Lattanzi.

He is survived by his children: Madeline O'Brien (David), Dexter, MI; Daniel, Tamaqua; Joseph (Cindy), Houston, TX; and John (Beth), Hometown; grandchildren: Katie Perkins (Zach), Austin, TX; Joseph Lattanzi (Katie), Houston, TX; Amy Lattanzi (Philip Berthelsen), Houston, TX; and Olivia Lattanzi, Hometown; and great-granddaughters: Avery and Sadie Lattanzi, Houston, TX, and Ella Perkins, Austin TX.

Service: A Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 13, in St. John XXIII Catholic Church, 307 Pine St., Tamaqua. Interment in St. Jerome Cemetery, Lombard St., Tamaqua, will follow the mass. Call 9-10:30 a.m. on Monday at the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home, 500 E. Broad St., Tamaqua. Memorial donations in Daniel's name may be made to either the American Cancer Society at cancer.org; or Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306 or at t2t.org. Online condolences may be made at www.zgfuneralhome.com.