Serafin G. Mactagone

Lieutenant Colonel Serafin G. “Greg” Mactagone passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 30, 2014. He was born May 17, 1927 in Kalaheo, Kauai to Lorenzo Mactagone and Carmela Velez. After graduating from Kauai High School in 1946, he enlisted in the U.S. Army while working toward, and eventually attaining, a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and an ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate recognition. In the course of his military service, Lieutenant Colonel Mactagone met his soon-to-be wife, Marisa Mactagone (Diaz), of Oviedo, Spain, while he was stationed in El Paso, Texas. The couple would eventually have two children, Gregory Mactagone and Lorena Reilly (Mactagone), and a grandchild, Alexandra Reilly, from the union of Lorena and Michael Reilly. As a military officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mactagone served tours of duty in Alaska, Hawaii, Germany, Korea, and Vietnam. He received numerous honors, among them Meritorious Service, the Bronze Star and the Air Medal, both of which were awarded to him while serving as Operations Officer and Executive Officer of a field artillery battalion in three major field operations in Vietnam. His final military assignment was with the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations in Headquarters, U.S. Army Europe. After serving his country in the armed forces for over 25 years, Lieutenant Colonel Mactagone successfully pursued a career working in the private sector for the Banking Industry. Greg began his banking career working with First Hawaiian Bank in Honolulu, Hawaii. There, he managed First Hawaiian’s Real Estate Development Department and was active in the Hawaii chapters of the Institute of Real Estate Management, the American Institute of Banking, and Mortgage Lenders of Hawaii. After working and raising his family in Hawaii for 12 years, a move to El Paso, Texas would extend and expand Greg’s banking career for another 12 years, as he eventually became Assistant Vice President in the Real Estate and Construction Loan Department at M Bank, which would eventually become Wells Fargo Bank. Throughout his various careers, Greg was known for his kindness, generous spirit, exceptional leadership, sharp business acumen, and dedication to his family. Greg is survived by his wife, Marisa Mactagone, son Gregory Mactagone, daughter Lorena Reilly, and granddaughter Alexandra Reilly, his sisters Rose Stewart and Vicki Melvin, as well as sister-in-law Maria Elena Diaz and brother-in-law Jose Diaz. The Right of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2014 at 11:00 am at Sunset Funeral Home-West. Graveside Service will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at 11:00 am at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, with full military honors. In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 4687 N. Mesa St. Suite 200, El Paso, TX 79912. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West, 480 N. Resler Dr. Please visit our online guestbook at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net