Michael Rante

Michael V. Rante, age 79, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2019. Michael was the beloved husband of Anna, nee DiBartolo, for 50 wonderful years; loving father of Michelle DePinto and Jennifer Rante; dearest son of the late Maria and Americo Rante; cherished grandfather of Valentina, Dominic and Arianna; dear brother of the late Lucia DiGiulio and a fond uncle of many.Born and raised in Italy, he earned his college degree there and then served 6 years in the Italian Air Force before immigrating to the United States. Once settled in the Chicago area he became of member of IBEW # 134. Working as an electrician he went on to establish his own residential electrical company - AR Electric in the 70’s. Always an entrepreneur and never letting a sluggish economy slow him down, he briefly left the electrical and construction trades in the early 80’s and went on to own a nightclub lounge ~ Breaking Away ~ and then an Italian restaurant ~ Papa Mike’s, both in Wood Dale. He always loved real estate and had a passion for architecture and building and so he returned to the construction business again in the mid 80’s. Mike went on to build dozens of commercial and residential dwellings across Chicago land and most are still standing; many with his trademark ‘arch’ WITHIN the design. Mike had a passion for music and he was also a talented sketch artist too. He played the bass guitar as a young man and had a beautiful baritone singing voice. He was lead singer for his band ~ The Continentals ~ in the late 60’s. He continued to sing for the rest of his life. In fact family and friends will recall his two favorite songs to sing were VOLARE and WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD. Mike was always the life of the party, filling a room with his gregarious smile, his warm embrace and with his heavy Italian accent - his hilarious and memorable storytelling would leave his listeners cracking up. Mike was a hardworking and prideful man. He wasn’t perfect, and he had his share of life ups and downs...but Mike never stopped moving forward. He enjoyed traveling the world with his family and made return trips to his homeland almost yearly too. He always inspired and encouraged those around him and was a natural leader. Most people who met him were drawn to him because of his warm and genuine personality. Up until he passed, Mike continued to work full time - in fact in the last decade of his life he returned frequently to Italy where he became involved with and went on to be a representative for Gatto Cucine, an Italian cabinetry company. He established himself as their sole United States import representative, and eventually led the company in opening the Gatto Chicago division. He and his partners still have active building projects in production both in Chicago and in the western United States. No matter his professional success, his most important accomplishment was his dedication to his wife Anna and his daughters and grandchildren whom he loved and cherished. With some immediate family still in Italy, nieces and nephews, friends across the ocean and around the world, he leaves behind a beautiful legacy that EMBRACES the TRUE AMERICAN DREAM - Mike Rante did things HIS WAY. Mike will be missed tremendously. Visitation Monday, October 7, 2019, from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Cumberland Chapels 8300 W. Lawrence ave., Norridge, IL. Funeral services will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, at the funeral home, and will then proceed to St. Paul of the Cross Church in Park Ridge for a Mass at 12:30 p.m. The entombment will be private at All Saints Mausoleum in Des Plaines, IL. For more information please call (708)456-8300.