Jack Barzelogna was the son of Peter B. Barzelogna (an Italian Army World War I Veteran, b 2-16-1898, d - 1-5-1976) and Anna G. Spencer Barzelogna (b 10-11-1913, d - 4-13-1991). After his family left Big Ridge, Virginia while he was still in childhood, he grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He enlisted in the US Air Force as an Armaments Technician in 1955, served 12 years in the Air Force, obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant and left the service to return home to Michigan. He was in the United States (stationed at an Air Force Base in South Dakota having nuclear missile silos which was a nuclear target for the Soviet missiles in Cuba) during the Cuban Missile Crisis, October 1962, and once indicated that it (and being in the front row of a nuclear confrontation with the Soviet Union) was the greatest level of fear he experienced while serving in the US Air Force. He married Mary Ann Perdue (b 5-6-1939, d 4-21-2000) at Homestead AFB, Florida, stayed married to her for most of his life, and his children included Jacque M. Barzelogna Thomas and Kristie L. Barzelogna Turner. His siblings included Robert Barzelogna (a USMCR and USAF Cold War/ Cuban Missile Crisis/ Vietnam Veteran, b - 1-28-1935 d - 6-13-2014), Richard D. Barzelogna (a Teamster Vice President, b - 6-7-1938, d - 1-2015) and Barbara A. Barzelogna Humphrey (b - 9-30-1940). He loved fishing for muskie and pike on the Great Lakes, ice fished when only the fanatical few who loved the sport past the limits of sanity would go, and often fished and crabbed with his father during his visits to Florida. Jack Barzelogna had a unique, dry sense of humor that I always found enjoyable. One of his nephews asked him once, during one of his visits to Florida, "Uncle Jack, where will we go fishing tomorrow?" Uncle Jack responded, "In the water, you bone head. We won't catch very many fish on the land." Uncle Jack once asked me how my health was, if I had any serious injuries, etc. I took it he was simply being a good uncle & responded that I was healthy as a horse, no serious injuries, and he stated with a sarcastic grin, knowing I had walked into a verbal trap, "I'm damn glad! You stay healthy, don't get hurt and live a long, long time. If anything happens to you, I'll be the ugliest SOB in the Family!" Uncle Jack's sense of humor was extremely unique & even when I was the target, I found it enjoyable. His favorite nephew was undoubtedly Cpl Mark R. Humphrey (USMC Cold War veteran, b 12-2-1961, d 3-6-2008). He finished Chef School in New Orleans circa 1972, and demonstrated enormous talent in a kitchen during his visit to his father's home in 1973. The last time I saw Jack Barzelogna alive, he was sitting at the table in his neice's home in St John's Park, Florida, cleaning shrimp, cutting up and enjoying his company. He looked ill and seemed to have lost weight, and I later found out he was in a hard battle with lung cancer. He was an American Red Cross Volunteer. When Jack Barzelogna passed away, he left 3 siblings, 2 daughters, many neices and nephews, 3 granddaughters and 1 grandson with numerous wonderful memories. It was unfortunate that I never got to spend much time around Jack Barzelogna (I can only remember seeing Uncle Jack 4 times), but the times that I was around him were fun, humorous and precious. God bless you, Uncle Jack. I'll never forget you.

LIFE: 60 Years, 7 Months, 22 Days

CAUSE OF DEATH: Lung Cancer

WHAT IS A VETERAN?
A 'veteran' - whether active duty,
discharged, retired, or reserve -
is someone who, at one point in their
life, wrote a blank check made payable
to 'The United States of America,' for
an amount of 'up to, and including their
life.'
That is honor, and there are way too many
people in this country today, who no longer
understand that fact.

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