Samuel J. Rizzuti

Samuel J. Rizzuti, 92, passed away on November 28, 2023, at UnityPoint Iowa Methodist Hospital.

He was born March 12, 1931 in Terravecchia, Italy to Luigi and Serafina (Berardi) Rizzuti.

Sam came to the United States from Italy as a young boy who spoke no English and was placed into St. Anthony’s elementary school. He flourished with the love and support of his parents and the Southside Italian-American community. He often talked fondly of life back “in the old country”. These early experiences formed strong values that made Sam a thoughtful, caring, and humble man. In the years after graduating from Dowling Catholic High School, he married June, the love of his life, had four children, and founded Artistic Ornamental Iron Works with his brother, and deeply loved mentor, Dominic.

Family was everything to Sam. He was so proud that all four children graduated from the University of Iowa and cherished the congratulatory letter he received from the president of U of I for this achievement. For many years he enjoyed weekends in Iowa City cheering on the Hawkeyes alongside his gold and black-dressed family. He loved family vacations, especially beach vacations even though he never learned to swim! He beamed every year at the legendary annual Rizzuti Christmas Eve Party that was held with his brother’s family for up to 75 family members.

Sam had a creative and fascinating mind, allowing him to re-engineer and modify (often humorously) every single store-bought item, often by welding on some type of reinforcing bracket. His ingenuity served him well at his ironworks company. He enjoyed pointing out all the many projects around Des Moines and at his beloved St. Anthony’s Church that Artistic Iron Works designed and constructed. The excellent quality of the ironwork by Sam and Dominic was highlighted by their selection to participate in the 1996 Smithsonian Institution Sesquicentennial Celebration in Washington D.C. After Dominic retired, Sam enjoyed continuing the business with his nephews Lou, Dominic Jr., and Rocky.

Samuel J. Rizzuti’s legacy will live on through the love and virtues he instilled in his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren: faith, hard work, overcoming adversity, putting others first, and being satisfied with what you have. As one of his grandchildren said, “I am in awe at how humble he was, and how such a soft-spoken, quiet influence could rub off on his family in such a big way.”

His four children will always remember and cherish his patience, his unconditional love for them, and “THE BEST HUGS” that he shared with them often!

Sam is survived by his children, Linda (Mark) Hagen, Pam (Jeff) Baker, Lisa (Robert) Eads, and Sam Rizzuti II; grandchildren, Katie (Matt) Woodruff, Carly (Stephen) Gazdick, Sara Baker, James Baker, Ashley Eads, Robert Eads, and Caleb Rizzuti; and great-grandchildren, Hunter and Cody Gazdick.

He was preceded in death by his spouse, June Rizzuti; his parents; and brother, Dominic Rizzuti.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 15 Indianola Road. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 4, 2023, at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street with a rosary to begin at 6:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church or the Polk County West Side Senior Center in loving memory of Sam.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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