Ronald S. Pencak

Ronald S. Pencak, 72, passed away on February 13, 2016. He was born in September 1943 in Waukegan and grew up in Winthrop Harbor. He attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Elementary School and Zion Benton Township High School. He went to Carthage College and then graduated from UW Parkside with a bachelors of Science Degree and then graduated from Kenosha Technical Institute with an Associate Degree in Business. He married Anita Hollingshead on June 18, 1966. They had two sons, Derek and Bradley. Ron spent many years coaching, watching and umpiring both his sons little league teams. Their team was the Beach Park Cincinnati Reds. He was known to provide treats to the team after the games. With his sons he moved on to the bronco league and as they went on to high school, so did he. By that time he mainly watched practices and games. He attended as many games as possible. He was known to provide treats to the boys after games. In 1991 he was blessed with a grandson Alex. Many baseball games were played in our yard until Alex was old enough to play on a team. His two grandsons, Alex and Willie, expanded his sports' world to soccer and High School swimming. Grandpa Ron attended as many games and meets as possible. Unfortunately, Ron did not live long enough to explore sports world his granddaughter would have introduced him too. Although, she had already taught him that girls are different than boys. Ron was very active in his grandsons' lives. He was well known at Alex’s grade school. Ron had a passion for giving. He would donate school supplies to Alex’s school and to a school in Zion. His greatest treasure were all the thank you notes he received from all the children and the schools. Ron worked at Abbott Laboratories, Fansteel Inc., and Fel-Pro before he retired. He enjoyed watching and taping as many programs on TV that he could. He absorbed everything he saw and would love to talk about what he knew. He especially was interested in the wars. Ron leaves behind his wife, Anita; his two sons, Derek and Bradley (Jessika); two grandsons, Alexander and Willie a granddaughter, Bridgette; his two brothers, Walter Jr. of Winthrop Harbor and Mike of Beach Park; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Sr.; his mother, Lorraine; grandparents, Zygmunt (Elizabeth) Greic and John (Mary) Pencak; and his aunts uncles, Charles Greic, Patricia Hodnett, Florence (John) Stolarik, Julia (Stanley) Pyktel, Joe (Tina) Pencak, and Mary (Frank) Krempotic. Ron had a unique way of looking at things and was quite a believer in Murphy’s Law. Special thanks to: Dr. Agaiby and Staff at Aurora Medical Clinic and St. Lukes Hospital. Thanks to: Sarah, Jodi and Ian physical therapists at his rehab center in Zion, IL, along with nurses John and Irene. A big special thank you to his roommate Willie, his company and conversations helped Rony make it bearable being in such nursing home. Thanks to: Jane, Julie, Gina, Sandy, Chaplain Joe Casey, John Davis, Anna, Minnie and Ellie. Vista Hospice our eternal gratitude for the care and comfort given to Rony. We would like to thank the Congdon Funeral Home in Zion, IL for their support with the final arrangements. The pallbearers will be his two sons, two grandsons, and Anita’s two brothers, Jim Hollingshead and Joseph Larry Bridges. A visitation will be held Tuesday, February 16, 2016 from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at CONGDON FUNERAL HOME, 3012 Sheridan Rd., Zion, IL. Interment will be private for the family. Donations can be made in his name to Our Lady of Humility School and Howe Elementary School in Beach Park.