Father of Mary Gasser Pfleghaar ’81 & Sandra Gasser Zwayer ’83

Milton Henry GASSER

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GASSER Milton Henry Milton H. Gasser, age 80, passed away on January 25, 2011, in the Ebeid Hospice Center in Sylvania, Ohio, surrounded by his loving family Milton was born in Toledo, Ohio, on May 10, 1930, to Leonard and Ruth Gasser. He graduated from Macomber High School in 1948 and spent his life working in the food industry. Milton first worked for the Kroger Co. from 1946 to 1958 where he was promoted to store manager at the young age of 19. From 1958 to 1969 he worked for the Vlasic Food Co. where he started out as a salesman and then promoted to assistant sales manager and frozen food merchandiser for the Food Town Store. In 1969, Milton was hired as sales manager of the retail division of Valley Farm Foods until 1972. Milton joined the food brokerage firm of, Harold M. Lincoln Co. where he served as sales manager for their dairy and frozen food division. He then joined the Carl Hays Co. Food Brokers in 1976 as sales manager, and then became part owner with Dan Puccetti. The company was renamed Puccetti-Gasser Inc. where he served as Executive Vice-President until he retired in 1988 for health reasons. Milton was a member of the National Food Brokers Association for 20 years where he served on its Deli/Dairy Committee for 3 years. He was the past President of Northwest Ohio Frozen Food Association, past President and lifetime member of Toledo Area Grocery Manufacturers Representatives. Milton served on the advisory boards of Quaker Oats Co, VandeKamp Foods, and the J.R. Simplot Co. Milton was a former member of St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Parish where he was a member of the Boosters Club and served on the Stewardship Committee for 2 years, he was also a Eucharistic Minister. He was the past President of St. Johns Jesuit High School Fathers Club, past Vice-President of Mobile Meals Board and a former board member and advisor to the Mobile Meal Market Program. Milton was also the Vice-President of the Centennial Meadows Home Owners Association and was one of the founders of the “Not So Over The Hill Gang”, a group of retired grocery and food sales people who met monthly at the former Surf Supper Club. Milton was an active supporter in his grandchildren’s many activities. He was an avid Detroit Tigers fan. One of his greatest honors was throwing out the first pitch at a Tigers home game. Milton and Catherine loved to travel and enjoyed many trips together. He had a passion for beaches and beautiful sunsets. His love for music filled his home daily. Milton was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Nancy Ruhl. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Catherine “Peachie” (Limongi); children, Leonard (Andrea) Gasser, Connie (Jim) Carter, Tom (Sharon) Gasser, Karen (Bill Tucker) Murphy, Jim (Kim) Gasser, Mary (Greg) Pfleghaar, Sandi (Dave) Zwayer, Steve (Melissa) Gasser; 28 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S Reynolds Rd., on Friday, January 28th, from 2-8 p.m. where a Scripture Service will be held at 7 p.m. Funeral Services will begin in the mortuary on Saturday, January 29th, at 9:15 a.m. followed by the funeral mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sylvania, Ohio, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials may take the form of a contribution to either the Ebeid Hospice, Mobile Meals, or to St Joseph Church. Please view and sign the on-line guest registry at CoyleFuneralHome.com

Published in Toledo Blade from January 27 to January 28, 2011