Ronald J. Hornick

Ronald Joseph Hornick, 86, of Fairland Loop Menominee passed away Tuesday, Jan. 24 at his home.

Born March 29, 1936 in Menominee, Mi., the oldest child of Joseph and Helen (Becker) Hornick, he married his high school sweetheart, Karen (Haum) on July 12, 1958 and they began their over 70 year relationship six years earlier when his best friend Ray Nowack set up a blind date through his girlfriend/Karen’s cousin Kris Madsen. He graduated from Menominee High School in 1954 and was an alumni of Western Michigan University.

His career was in all levels of manufacturing management and leadership at Briggs & Stratton, AC Sparkplug/Delco Electronics, Division of General Motors and Marinette Marine Corporation. He loved all the work he did, but his greatest satisfaction was being a part of the large team that built the guidance systems which would win the Space Race through the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. He served in the Wisconsin National Guard, Red Arrow Division and was called to active duty and mobilized to Fort Lewis, Wa. in support of President Kennedy’s efforts to address The Berlin Crisis.

He enjoyed woodworking and making fine furniture, homes, garages, additions, radio controlled scaled planes and was a General Contractor for many homes and many people. He also taught manufacturing classes at NWTC.

Upon the implementation of Vatican II, he was President of the first Pastoral Council at St Rita’s Catholic Community in Racine  and also Resurrection Parish’s first lay advisory council with the reorganization of the Menominee Parishes in 1971.  He is a member of Resurrection Parish, the M&M YMCA, American Legion Post 146 and The Academy of Model Aeronautics.

He is survived by wife, Karen; three sons, Scott, Greg (Laura) and Chris (Paula) seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren with one on the way; a brother, Charles of Santa Barbara, Ca.; Sister Marlene (John) Noppenberg, South Bend, In.; cousins; nieces and a nephew.

Including his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Beverly Hornick.

Visitation was held at Resurrection Parish Church in Menominee on Monday, Jan. 30 from 9 a.m. until time of a Catholic Funeral Rite at 11 a.m., followed by a lunch in the Parish basement. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in Menominee at a later date. Cadieu Funeral Home of Menominee assisted the  family with arrangements. Donations are appreciated to St Vincent DePaul.