Norman Bruce “Dino” Preite, 68, of Indiana, PA, passed away Wednesday, February 17, 2010, at his home.

A son of James John and Mary Jane (Viall) Preite, he was born on March 20, 1941, in North Adams, Massachusetts.

Mr. Preite was a member of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Roman Catholic Church in Indiana. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years on four different ships mostly overseas in the Far East. He had worked for Western Electric in Florida for 18 years. Dino moved to Indiana, PA becoming a Deputy Sheriff for Indiana County, retiring February 29, 2008, after 23 years of service.

Dino’s hobbies included listening to the oldies, dancing, traveling, collecting nautical and medieval figures, and designing and constructing miniature buildings. He was a member of the Indiana B.P.O.E. (Elks) Lodge #931, Indiana F.O.E. (Eagles) Aerie #1468, and Indiana L.O.O.M. (Moose) Lodge #174.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret “Peggy” (Morris) Preite of Indiana, PA, whom he married January 25, 2003; his two sons: Dean Columbo and wife Jennifer of Davenport, Florida; Eric James of Kissimmee, Florida; three grandchildren: Gabryelle, Rylan and Isabella; four stepchildren: Christopher Evans of Indiana, PA; Theodore Evans Jr. and wife Stephanie of Glenshaw, PA; Mark Evans of Homer City, PA; Elizabeth Pavlick and husband John of Woodbine, Maryland; eleven stepgrandchildren: Brittany, Brooke, Christine and Vincent Evans; Mya and Tara Dillen; Joshua Evans; John, Clare, Luke and Regan Pavlick; and three brothers and a sister: John James and wife Joan of North Adams, Massachusetts; Edward Matthew and wife Tina of San Diego, California; James Daniel and wife Josefina of San Diego, California; and Jean Marie Schwartz and husband Eric of Davie, Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Mary Jane Buchanan.

Friends will be received at the Bence-Mihalcik Funeral Home in Indiana on Sunday, Feb. 21, from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. with a parish vigil at 3:45 p.m. His funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Monday at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Roman Catholic Church with the Rev. William J. Kiel as celebrant. Entombment will follow in the church mausoleum with military rites conducted by the Indiana VFW Post 1989.

His family requests memorial contributions be made to missionary Fr. John Strittmatter, SCJ, PO Box 168, Middelburg Cape, 5900 South Africa; or to VNA/Family Hospice of Indiana County, 850 Hospital Road Suite 3000, Indiana, PA 15701.

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