Obituary of Americo Francis Amato

Americo (Rico-Rick) Francis Amato, 79, of Linn Creek, Missouri, died Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at Jackson, Mississippi. Americo was born November 5, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Louis and Nancy Amato. He was the youngest of six children. On June 18, 1955, Americo was united in marriage to Guadalupe Gutierrez in Chicago, Illinois. Together they raised five children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Nancy Amato; his two sisters, Angie Eshbach and Felicia Arcuri; one brother, Vincent; and one great grandson, Carter Rush. He is survived by his wife Guadalupe; one daughter, Susan Rush, of Kosciusko, Mississippi; four sons, Louis Amato and his wife, Brenda, of Neosho, Missouri, Americo Amato (Rick) Jr. of Kosciusko, Mississippi; Chuck Amato and his wife, Desri, of Camdenton, Missouri, and Art Amato and his wife, Cheryl, of Union, Missouri; his two sisters, Antoinette Courtney of Plainfield, Illinois and Mary Massari of Chicago, Illinois; eight grandchildren, Robert Rush, Ryan Rush, Nathan Rush, Louis Amato, Jr., Michael Amato, Mikel White, Alex Amato, and Adam Amato; fourteen great-grandchildren, Kambrie Rush, Emma Rush, Cullen Rush, Sydney Rush, Jon Parker Rush, Victoria Rose Rush, Aiden Rush, Marlee Kate Rush, Haidyn Amato, Sydney Amato, Rylee Amato, Hadley Amato, Creed Amato, and Emma White; along with several nieces, nephews and many friends. Rick grew up in the Chicago area. He is a veteran of the Korean War. He served as a corporal in the United States Army and Air Corp where he trained as a mechanic and truck driver. After his discharge, he worked in Bensenville, Illinois. Rick and his family lived in Lombard, Illinois until August 1972 when they moved to Camdenton, Missouri. He worked various places as a mechanic until retiring from Tan-Tar-A in 1998. Rick was a life member of the Lions Club of Linn Creek/Osage Beach, holding various titles throughout the years. Rick loved being around people and making them laugh. A person just had to ask and he would go out of his way to help them. He was a member of the VFW Post in Kaiser, Missouri, and a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Camdenton. He loved to play his piano and accordion at family gatherings. He would play and sing his little songs for everyone. His music and wit will be greatly missed. Rick was laid to rest in the Attala Memory Gardens in Kosciusko, Mississippi on June 2, 2012.