Longtime Hatboro Man, Police Sgt., WW2 Purple Heart Winner Under Gen. Patton, Passes Away

Image and obituary courtesy Baskwill Funeral Home.

Michael A. Iatesta Sr. passed away in his sleep on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, at his home in Hatboro.

He was born Dec. 8, 1920 to Phillip and Maria Iatesta on a New Hope farm in Bucks County. He often spoke of his childhood years in the family's pre-­revolutionary farmhouse, and he enjoyed visiting his old haunts until the very last years of life. Being the youngest of seven children, and almost four years shy of 100 years of age, he had a multitude of stories about the struggles of running a small farm, and the antics and happy times spent with his siblings.

Mike served a few years in Pennsylvania and New Mexico with the Civilian Conservation Corps before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1941. He was a proud member of the 2nd Armored Division under General George Patton, known as "Hell on Wheels", playing an important role in the invasions of North Africa and Sicily, and the liberation of France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. He was awarded the Purple Heart on Sept. 8, 1944.

On March 16, 1946, Mike married Eleanor Iannelli in Brooklyn, N.Y. The young couple lived on Tulip Street in Philadelphia for a few years, where sons Kenneth and Michael were born. In 1952, they moved to Hatboro where Mike later joined the Police Department and retired as a sergeant in 1980.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Lucy, Anna and Dorothy; and brothers, Joe, Phillip, and Jim.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Eleanor; sons, Kenneth (Jackie) and Michael (Nannette); five grandchildren, Amy Ruch, Adam Iatesta, Lydia Johnson, Brad Iatesta, and Evan Iatesta; and five great-grandchildren, Ethan and Cole Ruch and Micaiah, Jack and Alex Johnson.

A time to receive friends will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 1 at Baskwill Funeral Home, 20 W. Montgomery Avenue (half block west of York Road), Hatboro, followed by the drive to Washington Crossing National Cemetery, where his committal service will be held at 11:30 a.m.

Donations may be made to Gospel Hall Missions, 23 West Moreland Ave., Hatboro, PA 19040.