Vincent Louis Basile

Vincent Louis Basile, age 77, passed away peacefully at the Iowa Veterans’ Home, Marshalltown, Iowa on Tuesday, November 7th, 2017. He was born to Fred and Grace (Andriella) Basile on March 10, 1940 in Camden, NJ. Vince was predeceased by his younger brother, Ernest Joseph.

Vince was a 1958 graduate of Camden High School, enlisting in the US Army from 1958-1961 where he served in Heidelberg, Germany. After his return from Germany, Vince worked as a butcher, meat market and grocery manager until he retired in 2002.

Meeting the love his life, Grace (Sims), they married June 21, 1977, and lived in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and finally settled in Northwest Florida. Between the two, Vince and Grace had eight children. In 2015 due to declining health, he moved to Iowa to live near his son (Vince II) and daughter (Dani), where he resided until his death.

Growing up as a second generation Italian immigrant, Vince knew well the value of family and work. At a young age he worked for his uncle Dominic Andriella where he learned the art and satisfaction of meat-cutting, a skill he gladly taught others. Vince knew well that hard-work paid off – proudly buying his first car at sixteen.

Despite the fact that he worked hard, oftentimes balancing two jobs to support his young family, he always set aside Sundays for macaroni and gravy at his parents. Even when he moved to Dover, Delaware to open Vinnie’s Meat Market, he loaded his three teen-age kids for the 90 minute trek back to South Jersey to spend time with his mom and dad.

In addition to working hard and spending time with family, if the truth be told everyone would agree Vince had an adventurous spirit. Not only was he a nomad of sorts – living in various places along the East Coast – he lived life on the edge. Vince loved skiing in the winter, and even instilled his love for the sport to his kids. His love for sand and sea was another passion that Vince handed-down – even renting a condo in Ocean City, Maryland over a summer so his family could enjoy the season, despite the fact that he worked throughout the week to make it possible. Memories were made that summer! Ask any of his kids about Vince’s first boat, and they’ll share what has the appearance of “big fish” stories of Vince cruising the 16 ft. bow-rider through the Chesapeake Bay to venture out into the Atlantic Ocean – so far out that the horizon was the only thing within sight. The shoreline was only a memory, until he made it safely home.

His son and namesake, Vince II, was the “apple of his eye,” to say the least! As much as he adored Vince II, he also loved pulling practical jokes on him (and others)! Even up to their last-days together, the two had a special bond that was evident to everyone that knew them.

As time went on, Vince transitioned easily from the role of “Dad” to that of “Pop Pop” (and later, “Pops”). Maintaining his child-like sense of adventure and humor, Pops’ grandchildren eagerly followed his lead into mischief! Stories of summers with Pops and Nana would be incomplete without recounting a practical joke Pops and his grandchild played on Nana, or the excitement Pops and his grandchild had when the adventure went wrong, as was often the case. Motorized vehicles were often front-and-center in the adventure, and some sort of accident was luckily avoided (or survived, depending on who told the story). No matter what, the adventure was etched in the grandchild’s memory and on their heart for them to cherish and share with their children.

So it is with hearts full of love for Vince…Dad…Pops that we hold on to our memories and shared adventure, while at the same time releasing him to spend eternity with God in heaven. In his last days (and hours), Vince wondered aloud when he would go to see (be reunited with) those who had gone before. He was predeceased by his parents, Fred and Grace, his brother, Ernie, his beloved wife, Grace, his son and apple of his eye, Vince II, beautiful grand-daughter, Kelli and dear grandson, Brian.

Left to honor Vince and Grace’s memory are their children Dave (Amy) Holcombe, Dani (Rob) Renaud, Beth (Vince II) Basile, Lissa Basile, Tom (Wendy) Holcombe, Debbie (Jerry) Leary, Sue Morris, and John (Dana) Holcombe. Crowning Vince and Grace with glory (Prov. 17:6) are their children’s children: Kimberly, Matthew, Trevor, Brendan, Colin, and Finley, children of Dave Holcombe; Foster II and Zachary (Alicia), Reagan, and Macie, children of Dani Renaud; Nicole (Carl) Kirpes, daughter of Beth and Vince Basile II; Jack Janes, son of Lissa Basile; TJ, Christopher, and Jessica, children of Tom Holcombe; Jerry Jr., Jeffrey, and Jennifer, children of Debbie Leary; Stephanie and Sabrina (Andy) Pluta, children of Sue Morris; and Michael, Steven, Julie, Kyle, and Lindsey, children of John Holcombe; and great-grandchildren: Avery Grace, Hailey Mae, Camden V., Sophia, Jack Jr., Tommy, Steven, Samantha, Taylor, Kylie, Dalton Jr., Kylie, Brooklyn, Chloe, and Jonathan.

It goes without saying that Vince will be especially missed by Malachi, his precious dog, whom he also spoke a lot of in his last days.

Family visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 14th from 5:30 – 6:30 pm at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, IA. Services are scheduled for Wednesday, November 15th at 11:00 am at the Iowa Veterans’ Home Chapel, Marshalltown, IA (burial to follow at the IVH Cemetery).

Without each and every member of the IVH staff, veterans like Dad, (and their families), would be unable to provide for the medical and social needs of their loved ones, allowing them to live out their lives with the respect and dignity they deserve, as well as having top-notch medical care. Therefore, Vince’s family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Iowa Veterans’ Home, 1301 Summit Street, Marshalltown, IA.

Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
Proverbs 17:6 NIV

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