Anthony Joseph Santagato

Anthony Joseph Santagato, of Atwater, CA, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2024, at the age of 79.  He was surrounded by his loved ones as the gates of Heaven opened for him and our Heavenly Father brought him to his loving wife, Laraine.

Born March 18, 1945, or as he would tell you, “18th March 45,” in Granite City, Illinois.  He grew up in the small town of Cahokia.  Anthony was the first of four children.  He lived in Illinois until 1963 when he joined the United States Air Force.  In 1968, he met the love of his life, Laraine during the latter part of his tours through France and England, in a local pub.  He proudly served his country until 1968 and completed his active-duty time. 

Anthony and Laraine wed in September of 1970 and continued their life in Illinois and Missouri between the years of 1970-1974 and started a family of their own when they moved to Kansas City in 1974, where daughters Tania and Marcia were born.  Their journey as a family moved them westward in 1978 to Atwater, CA and they added two more to the family, Marcus and James completing their expectations of having two girls and two boys.

Anthony was a Master Sergeant veteran during the Vietnam War.  He was a flight line mechanic in the Air Force and continued to work on flight simulators. Continuing his duty as an Air Force Reservist and Civil Services until he retired in 2005.

In his free time, Anthony enjoyed listening to his ham radio, watching FOX and CNN news, and gory movies; the kind you need a pillow to cover your face with.  He LOVED his fried chicken and his sweets and was quite fond of food, all together.  He would watch his food network channels and could be often heard saying “Food makes me happy.”  He was the best dad joke teller of all time, hardly getting through them without laughing hysterically himself.  A man of much wisdom and knowledge, mostly because he read the manuals to everything. He was a man of few words, but the love for his family was profound.  He was a very humble, kind, and patient man, with a heart of gold. A true man of God and trusted that everything would always work out according to His plan.  

Anthony was preceded in death by his parents, Nicholas Joseph Santagato and Esther Lee Kincaid, his loving wife Laraine Deborah Santagato, brother-in-law Eddie Price and niece Salena Antoinette Price.  He is survived by his three siblings, Linda Sue Price, Denita Reed and Nicholas Santagato, all four of his children, Tania Kasper, Marcia Santagato, Marcus Santagato, James Santagato; five amazing grandchildren, Hannah Betancourt, Nathaniel and Caleb Kasper, Alexis and Antonio Santagato and many other family and friends who will miss him dearly. 

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