Armando John Vanni, 77, of Great Falls, went to be with his Lord on March 27, 2020.
John was born on July 20, 1942, in Lucca, Italy to Giulio and Emilia Vanni. He grew up in the “old country” in a close-knit Italian family with his three siblings and many cousins. He immigrated to Great Falls, Montana in 1957 when he was fourteen years old. He graduated from Great Falls Central Catholic High School in 1962. After becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served three years in Stuttgart, Germany.
Upon his return, he pursued a lifelong career in law enforcement. John first joined the Great Falls Police Department and, while working, earned his associates degree in Criminal Justice from the College of Great Falls. In 1987, after more than twenty years of honorable and dignified service, he retired as a Sergeant from the GFPD, and then worked as a Great Falls Airport police officer.
In 2000, he went to Bosnia with the United Nations Police Monitoring Force for one and one half years. Upon his return and until his retirement, he worked for Securitas, where he made many lifelong friends at the Montana Air National Guard and the MSU COT campus.
John married Sandi (Robb), in Great Falls on September 9, 1967. They were blessed with two daughters, Marci and Melissa. While the girls were growing up, the family enjoyed camping. Saturdays were devoted to family dinners with John’s parents and later—after their passing—to coffee with extended family and friends.
John is survived by his loving wife, Sandi; daughters, Marci Barker and Melissa (Brian) Belderrain; and three grandchildren, Brady Barker and Kade and Addison Belderrain; three siblings; Lia Reiling of Lincoln, Montana, and Emilio (Sandra) Vanni and Julie Lindseth of Great Falls; as well as many nephews and nieces.
John’s funeral will be held at a later time, when all of his loving family can be gathered together. To read the complete obituary and share condolences, visit the O'Connor Funeral Home website.
