Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Visitation will be held 2 to 7 p.m., Sunday, with a 5 p.m. Rosary at Brooks Funeral Care - Tonini Chapel.

Francisco Benito "Cheech" Amodeo, 72, was born February 15, 1935 to Luigi and Rosa (Pirillo) Amodeo in Terravecchia, Italy, where he lived until the age of 21. Following World War II, his family immigrated to Buenos Aires, Argentina. In Argentina, Frank married Anna Nucaro and fathered four children. He worked as a bricklayer, just as his father had before him, and built homes for his parents and siblings. In 1968, Frank moved to Des Moines, Iowa in search of a better life for his family. In Des Moines, he worked at Meredith printing company and retired in 1997.

Frank enjoyed cooking with his wife, hunting wild mushrooms and playing pitch with friends. His favorite hobby was gardening, which came naturally to him. He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church and the Society of Italian Americans. Above all, Frank loved spending time with his family and telling his grandchildren countless stories from his days in Italy and Argentina.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents Luigi and Rosa; his siblings Maria, Vicenza, and Rosina; his son "Corky" and his wife of 49 years, Anna. He is survived by his children Rosa (Tommy) Caligiuri, Louie Amodeo, and Lisa (Mark) Decker; his grandchildren Frank Anthony Amodeo; Frank, Topper and RoseAnna Caligiuri; Katie and Charllotte Amodeo; Brett, Brandon and Gage Decker; his siblings Guisseppe of Des Moines, Aldo, Umberto and Marandonna of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Lucrezia of Cosenza, Italy. Frank will truly be missed and will be remembered as the one and only "Cheech".

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.