MERIDEN, CT – Gordon H. Halla, 75, husband of Joan (Goodwin) Halla died Saturday, December 8, 2012 at Connecticut Hospice in Branford.Born June 20, 1937 in Westfield, MA, Gordon was the son of the late Harry and Louise (Michalik) Halla. After graduating High School, he proudly served four years in the United States Air Force from 1955-1959. Thereafter, Gordon worked fifty hours per week while attending Western New England College in Springfield, MA earning a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. The last twenty years of his business career were spent at Precision Products of Wallingford, where he was very happy and made many lifelong friends.
Gordon was very active through the years at Center Congregational Church of Meriden where he fulfilled many different roles in church ministries. He was an ardent outdoorsman, loving lakes and the woodlands where he fished and hunted all his life. Gordon also enjoyed competitive marksmanship, belonging to the Silver City Gun Club and he was a lifetime member of the NRA. Gordon and his wife Joan took many cross-country trips: visiting Yellowstone Park, traveling the Oregon Trail and many other areas of the West. He especially enjoyed Country and Bluegrass music. Most important to Gordon was the love he had for his family.
Beside his wife Joan to whom he was married for 56 years, Gordon is survived by his four children: William and his wife Maria (Cardoso) Halla, Donald and his wife Christine (Gadwah) Halla, Curtis and his wife Malena (Sierra) Halla and his daughter Lori and her husband Wolfgang Schmitt; 12 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter; a sister Dorothy Parenzo and a nephew Dana Parenzo, both of Westfield, MA.
His family would like to thank Dr. Levin, Dr. Clarke and Dr. Fumo for their care and concern during his illness. Gordon was well cared for at the Masonic Home and at CT Hospice in Branford since June of this year. Among his numerous visitors during this time were Gene Gazda and Colleen and Randy Stack and other close friends. Always present to be counted on were his sister-in-law Sandy Sparks and Henry Desellier.
His funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Stempien Funeral Home, 450 Broad Street, Meriden. Burial with military honors will follow in Walnut Grove Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Stempien Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Mr. Halla may be made to the Center Congregational Church Memorial Fund, 474 Broad Street, Meriden, CT 06450 or to CT Hospice 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford, CT 06405.
To send an online expression of sympathy please visit www.stempienfuneralhome.com
