Gene Baraldi

Gene Trey Baraldi died June 4, 2014. He was born on January 17, 1924 in Los Angeles, California to Michael and Lyda (Griggs) Baraldi. He graduated from Inglewood, California High School in 1941 and then joined the Civilian Conservation Corps at Camp Pleasant Bluff on Fort Ord in California. He became a crew pusher with 40 men working on soil conservation and fire suppression. At the same time he attended Salinas, California Junior College, studying math and precision measurement. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Gene enlisted in the Navy in 1942, serving at the Naval Operations Base at Terminal Island, California. He was transferred to the anti-aircraft training center as an instructor in anti-aircraft gunnery, and was a gunner's mate. Gene was injured in 1944 while launching a rocket and spent 11 months in a Naval Convalescent Hospital. From there he went to Guam, and then was eventually discharged on March 17, 1946, on a point system, at the Naval Operations Base, Terminal Island, California. Gene joined the Inglewood City Fire Department and then transferred to the Inglewood City Marshal's Office. He became a deputy of the Los Angeles County Marshall;s office, after a reorganization of the court system, and was assigned to the administrative division in the Inglewood courthouse. Gene then became a field assistant to the Marshal of the County of Los Angeles. After being transferred back to the Inglewood Courthouse, Gene worked in background investigation for new employees, and he also served as the department's ombudsman. He worked on special assignment, after which he was assigned first to the Torrance Courthouse and then to the San Pedro office. Gene then retired from service. Gene married Anne Marie Hatcherd on May 12, 1948, and they lived in Inglewood. After his retirement in California, they moved to Cherokee, Iowa. He worked for Christensen Brothers Cement Company for 5 years; the Christensen's being relatives of his wife. Gene then began working for the Cherokee County Sheriff as a court deputy and, after a court system reorganization, he worked for the 3rd Judicial Court system. He eventually retired from this position. Gene was an accomplished woodworker and enjoyed making furniture for his home. Anne Marie passed away in 1993. Also preceding him in death were his parents, Michael and Lyda Baraldi; and his sister, Louise. In 1995, Gene married Wanda Hamann Gustafson and, until 2000, they lived in Cherokee. They then moved to West Des Moines, and again to Edgewater in 2012. Gene was a member of the Windsor Heights Lutheran Church in Des Moines, Masonic Grand Lodge in San Francisco, California, the American Legion Post 07029 in Iowa, the Sheriff Relief Association of Los Angeles County, the Westchester Elks Lodge 2050 in Playa Del Ray, California, and is an Honorary Life Member of the Los Angeles Professional Peace Officer Association. Gene is survived by his wife Wanda; her children, Susan and Charles Pikrallidas, Mark and Laurie Gustafson, and Gregg and Peg Gustafson; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his nieces, Michelle (Joe) Palme of California and Donna (Tim) Fay and their children; his nephew, Bruce Christensen; and grand-nephews, Scott (Penny) Christensen, and Duane (Linda) Christensen of Cherokee; as well as a host of grand-nieces and nephews and friends.

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