Salvatore "Sam" Pagliai

Salvatore Pagliai, 94, passed away on December 10, 2015 on the island of Maui. Sam was the third child and first son born to John and Catarina Pagliai. After his honorable discharge from the Army, Sam married Delores (Dee) Knox. They had two children, Dianne and John. Sam and Dee worked hard together, creating the best pizza in Ames in 1954. They started Pagliai's Pizza in various locations in several states. Sam loved children and loved to make people laugh. He helped family and friends throughout his life. He also loved to gamble and was quite good at it throughout his life. As a child, he served as an altar boy and attended Mass throughout his entire life, even while in hospice. He is preceded in death by his parents and his son, who died in a car accident at the age of 35. After caring for his wife several years, Dee died on their 70th wedding anniversary. Sisters Angelina, Anita and Rosie and brother, Aldo also preceded him in death. Sam is survived by his daughter, Dianne; three grandchildren, Robert (Michelle) Pagliai, Kisha Brakel (and Eric), and Jamia (Jon) Thompson Albright; and five great-grandchildren, Kira Hagaman, Dylan and Bodhi Albright, and Giovanni and Gianni Pagliai. He is also survived by his sister, Inez Anderson and brother, Armond Pagliai, and many in-laws, nieces and nephews. Rosary is 5:00 PM, Dec. 18 (Friday) followed by visitation with the family, at St. Malachy's Catholic Church in Madrid. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at10:00 AM (Saturday) will also be at St. Malachy's, 405 Gerald St. in Madrid, Iowa. Rather than flowers, a basket will be on the altar for canned goods for the needy. Or you may donate to Hospice Maui for their compassionate care of Sam and so many others. Hospice Maui, 400 Mahalani St., Wailuku, HI 96793 "Click here to view memorial folder" ARRANGEMENTS BY ILES ~ SUNDBERG/KIRKPATRICK CHAPEL.