Greensburg Beverage owner Iannuzzo dies at 84

“Sonny” Iannuzzo devoted himself to his family and his beer distributorship.

Until the last few weeks of his life, he often worked seven days a week at Greensburg Beverage Inc., a company he operated for more than six decades, family members said.

“It was his life, that business,” said his wife, Bette Iannuzzo.

G. Lewis “Sonny” Iannuzzo, 84, of Greensburg, died on Monday, Oct. 7, 2013, in Allegheny General Hospital.

He was born Dec. 12, 1928, in Greensburg, a son of the late James and Josephine (Weaver) Iannuzzo.

He was honored as a “Miller Brewing Legend” and received other awards for his commitment to the brewer and for having the highest sales in the company's eastern region in 2007.

Jim Iannuzzo worked with his father at the business for about 40 years. He and brother David Iannuzzo joined the distributorship upon graduating from high school. David Iannuzzo eventually moved and no longer works in the business.

“Every day I went to work, he was here,” Jim Iannuzzo said of his father.

Mr. Iannuzzo found no job at the business too small, whether it involved sorting through bottles in earlier years, driving a beer truck to make deliveries or operating a forklift, Jim Iannuzzo said.

“He did everything,” the son said. “He loved this place. ... I can't believe he's not here right now.

“He was a good dad,” Jim Iannuzzo added. “That's (the business) what we did together. That's how we bonded. We had a good childhood growing up.”

General manager Tom Long knew Mr. Iannuzzo for 20 years and worked in the distributorship for 17.

“I've lost a great friend and a great mentor with his passing,” Long said.

Mr. Iannuzzo and his wife married on April 6, 1988.

“I just loved him so much. He was a beautiful person,” his wife said.

Mr. Iannuzzo was preceded in death by a stepson, Mark.

He is survived by his wife, Bette Iannuzzo; sons David Iannuzzo and wife, Carey, and James Iannuzzo and wife, Monica; stepchildren Jennifer Skatell Knopp, Liva Skatell-Valesky and Michael Skatell and wife, Kelly; and two sisters, Rosemary Cole and Jenny Boyd.

Family and friends will be received from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday in Kepple-Graft Funeral Home, 524 N. Main St., Greensburg, where a prayer service will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday. A funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Grace. Entombment will follow in Greensburg Catholic Cemetery, where military honors will be provided by the South Greensburg American Legion Post 981.

Donations in his memory may be made to a favorite charity.

Bob Stiles is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-836-6622 or bstiles@tribweb.com.