Alexander Joseph DeMeo

Alexander Joseph DeMeo was born to Felix and Susan (Gargano) DeMeo on October 22, 1922, in Chicago, IL. He attended Washburn Trade School. Al learned his carpentry trade from his father and uncles and also learned taxidermy and barbering. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II in China, Burma and India and was all around the world.
Al was employed by Miller Fluid Power and Flick – Reedy Corp as a master machinist. He was married to Dorothy Meyer and the lived in Illinois. Al and Dorothy had five children: Mary, Philip, Alexander F, Florence and Raymond. Al had so many accomplishments in his life, he built the model of U.S.S. Constitution, (15 ft. long, 700 lbs., with masts 15 ft. tall) a 3 ft. long stern wheel ship electronically operated from the shore. Al made a 1-6th scale model of the famed Liberty Bell. He spent many hours refitting and refurbishing the U.S.S. Silversides. His machining skills made it possible for the Silversides to look almost exactly as it did when it was on active duty during World War II. When they were having fundraisers to try to recover the only major US ship to escape to the open sea during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S.S. St. Louis known as the “Lucky Lou”. Al built a very large replica which they pulled in parades all over to help raise funds.
Al was an avid scuba diver and dancer. He and his wife Carol (Juelson) moved to Clarissa in 1989. Al had the talent to repair just about anything. If he needed a part, many times he could make it. He liked to create and machine cups, etc. He restored several old gas engines. Al purchased a beat up old 1945 Farmall A Tractor which he took completely apart and restored. However, to be unique he painted his pink, with gold rims, dark lavender wheels trimmed in black; every year this would be in the parade. You could always recognize Al when he was dancing because of his belt buckle (Al on it with flashing red lights). Besides the dance floor, you could find him dancing all summer at each area town’s summer festivals. All his accomplishments are too numerous to mention them all.
Al is preceded in death by his parents; wife Dorothy, wife Carol; son Philip; 1 brother and 8 sisters.
Al is survived by his children; Mary (Mike) Conkright, Alexander F. (Janet) DeMeo, Florence DeMeo, and Raymond DeMeo; 6 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren and 1 great great granddaughter. He made many friends including Karen Munson and Spencer and Kris Hayes.