Well-known Yerington/Smith Valley businessman Arthur Joseph Giomi passed away at his home surrounded by loved ones on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 after a brief battle with cancer.

Joe was born September 4, 1947 in St. Mary's Hospital in Reno and moved to Smith Valley at the age of 3 with his parents John and Jere Giomi. He attended Smith Valley Schools, where he was an outstanding athlete competing in basketball, football and track. He graduated from SVHS in 1965. Following high school, Joe attended UNR, Shasta Junior College and Chico State University, earning a degree in accounting and economics. He also received a teaching certificate and taught classes in Reno for a couple of years before returning to Yerington as a substitute teacher. Joe and his father purchased Ace Hardware from the previous owners and opened the store under their management on February 11, 1972. Joe continued to operate Ace Hardware until the time of his death.

Joe became a father from the first time on August 13, 1979 when his daughter Cheryl was born, and a second daughter, Carrie, was born later. Both girls were Yerington High School graduates, with Cheryl going on to attend Pacific University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology; and Carrie attending Lassen Junior College where she picked up an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts.
Both daughters later joined Joe in the family business.

Joe was very active in the Smith Valley and Yerington communities where he supported local education – something that was "super important" to him. He was also a member of the Yerington Rotary Club where he owns more Paul Harris Awards that any other Rotarian here and also served as president 3 times. In his earlier years, Joe was also a member of the Yerington Lions Club and a board member and president of the Mason Valley Chamber of Commerce. The Knights of Columbus was another organization to which he belonged.
He was a member of the Yerington/Mason Valley Fire Department, a MV Fire District board member, and was recently honored as a Lifetime Member. Golf was Joe's love when it came to sports but he also played slo-pitch softball locally, and he coached Little League.

Joe was preceded in death by his mother Jere and father John, his sister Patti, uncle Dorman and uncle and aunt Joe and Annabelle Giomi.
Survivors include his daughters, Cheryl Giomi-Hawkey (Jay) of Yerington and Carrie Giomi-Lippert (Ryan) of Bismarck, ND; brother John Giomi of Topaz; grandchildren Brynn and Morgan Hawkey of Yerington; ex-wife Debby Giomi of Yerington; best friend Sherry Tibbals of Yerington; nephews Dominic Smith (Dena DeAngelo) of Hawthorne, CA and Trevor Smith of Gardnerville; aunt Ginny of Reno; and numerous cousins.

A Rosary is scheduled for Friday, March 11 at 6:00 p.m.; and a Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, March 12 at 12:30 p.m. – both at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Yerington. Burial will follow in the family plot at Valley View Cemetery also in Yerington. A full Firefighter Funeral Service will be conducted in honor of his service.
Honorary pallbearers for Joe will be Byron Bryan, Max Cutright, Dave Dwyer, Fred Hall, Paul Infantino, John Landa and Jim Sanford

Freitas-Rupracht Funeral Home, 25 Hwy 208 Yerington, NV 89447 (775) 463-2911 is in charge of arrangements. Family and Friends are invited to sign his online guest book at www.FRFH.net

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Yerington Rotary Club or the Smith Valley Rotary Club's John F. Giomi Scholarship.