Joseph Augustus Levanti

Joseph Augustus Levanti, age 83, of Mt. Vernon, Missouri, passed away at 7:34 a.m. on Saturday, January 4, 2020, at his home.  He was born July 22, 1936, in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of the late August and Natalie Levanti.
Joe was a 1955 graduate of Saint Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio.  Joe worked as an actor for Disney on Parade touring throughout the nation for two years and for the touring Peter Pan show for seven months before starting his 23 year career as a stage hand, 18 of those on the soap opera General Hospital.  He was the owner of the Horseshoe Theatre in Mt. Vernon and was a member of the Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce, the Garden Railroad Club, the Writers Guild of Springfield, Missouri, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, and the International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 325.  
On November 21, 1987, he married Phyllis Jean Tripp in Van Nuys, California.  She preceded him in death on September 26, 2005.
Joe is survived by his daughter, Barbara Hardiman and her husband, Shawn, of Orlando, Florida; two sisters, Marian Heintz of Alpharetta, Georgia and Louise Levanti, of Goodyear, Arizona; three grandchildren, Jonathon Centola, Joshua Centola and Madison Hardiman, all of Orlando, Florida; three nephews and two nieces.
A Celebration of Joe’s life will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2020, at the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon.  Meet with Joe’s family and friends from 6:00-6:30 p.m. The service will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the funeral home chapel.  There will be a time for sharing your favorite stories.  
A private burial service will take place for the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made payable to the St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital, in care of the funeral home.
Online condolences may be shared at www.FossettMosherFuneralHome.com.