Antonio "Tony" Costa

Antonio "Tony" Costa passed away at the Humboldt General Hospital on December 8, 2007.

Tony was born to Paul and Beatrice Costa in Campese, Bassano del Grappa, Italy on August 9, 1922. He emigrated with his mother and two sisters through Ellis Island. They arrived in Winnemucca, Nevada on Christmas Eve 1927 during a snow storm. The family settled in Mill City, Nevada later moving to Winnemucca, where they built a home and settled. Tony attended schools in Winnemucca, graduating from Humboldt County High School in 1942. He studied drafting at Lick-Wilmerding College in San Francisco. For a time, he worked as an engine fireman on the Western Pacific Railroad. But his love of cabinetry and woodworking called and he went to work for Anderson & McShea Contractors. In 1947 he started his own construction company. Over the span of fifty years, he and his sons were instrumental in building many residences and commercial buildings in Winnemucca and surrounding area.

While doing cabinet work for a contractor in Reno he met a young school secretary, Rose Barbagelata, and they married in 1949. The two came back to Winnemucca, built and operated El Tony's Motel on East 3rd Street and began a family, while Tony continued his construction business. Tony was a volunteer fireman in Winnemucca for 10 years, active in the Knights of Columbus, and served on the Winnemucca Planning Commission. He was an avid outdoor sportsman, earning the nickname "Fish" as a high schooler, a name which stuck with him throughout his life. Fishing and hunting were his most avid pastimes.

Tony and Rose had three sons. Tony is a contractor in Montrose, Colo. Joe is in construction in Tooele, Utah. John is the meat department manager for Safeway Grocery Store in Medford, Ore.

Tony was preceded in death by his mother and father, brother-in-law Alfred Nannini, sister-in-law Norma Jeanne Costa, mother- and father-in-law Rita and Carlo Barbagelata.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Rose, sons Tony of Montrose, Colo., Joe (Cheryl) of Tooele, Utah, and John of Medford, Ore.; sisters Marie Nannini and Jeannie Renucci, both of Sparks; brother Jim of Carson City; grandchildren Justin (Jenny) Costa and Jana (Mark) Tobias, and great-grandchildren Mark Tobias III and Eric Costa, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A rosary and mass will be conducted Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 10:30 am at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Winnemucca. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to a charity of choice. Lovelock Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.