Longtime furniture dealer and bowling operator Ferdinand N. “Ferd” Serto passed away on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 with his loving family at his side.

Born on September 4, 1918 in Mellen, WI, he was the son of the late Mike and Rose (Crosetto) Serto. He and his family moved to Kenosha when he was a young boy, where he graduated from St. James Catholic Elementary School in 1932 and Kenosha High School in 1936.

On May 24, 1941 Ferd married Minnie C. Johnson in Kenosha. They both claimed It was love at first sight when they met while working at the Marshall Field Lace factory in Zion, IL. They were blessed with two daughters and five grandchildren during their 67 years of marriage.

From October 27, 1942 until his honorable discharge on December 6, 1945, Ferd served in the United States Army with the First Cavalry Division, including time spent overseas in the Philippines, New Guinea and Australia. He was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in the liberation of Luzon.

After returning from the service, Ferd became a partner in the Ron-Cel Bowling Alleys in the 600 block of 55th Street in Kenosha. He was also a partner in Marshall-Serto Furniture in Highland Park, IL until the late 1950s when he opened his own store, Serto Furniture, in the then brand-new Town and Country Shopping Center on 75th Street in Kenosha until the store's sale in 1984, after which he worked for Star Furniture until his retirement in 2002.

His social life was as active as his business. An intensely-religious man, he was a member of the Holy Name Society, the Knights of Columbus Council 973, a former member and president of the Serra Club, and a former board member for the St. Joseph High School Board. He was also a member of the Italian American Society, the Friends of Italian Culture, the Italian Business and Professional Association (where he was honored in 1993), a board member of the Friends of the Kenosha Public Museum, and a longtime member of the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce. Ferd was also a life member of both the Moose Lodge #286 and the V.F.W. Post 1865.

When not busy with business or his social commitments, Ferd enjoyed traveling – especially to Italy. He loved to sing, and took great pleasure in photography. However, Ferd’s most gratifying moments were the times he could spend with his children and grandchildren. He is remembered as a gentle man as well as a gentleman, one who befriended all he met.

He was survived by his wife Minnie, his daughters Michelle (John) Basel and Rosemary (Thomas Aiello) Serto-Aiello, five grandchildren: Angela, Patrick and Michael Aiello and Amy and Mary Basel; and many other relatives and friends. Along with his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Jack and Lawrence Crosetto, and two sisters, Frances Ashton and Mary Tovo.