Raymond Joseph Bronk

WINONARaymond Joseph Bronk, 66 of Winona died suddenly Sunday, May 3, 2015.Ray was born August 31, 1948 in Winona to Edward and Mary (Graff) Bronk. He graduated from Winona Senior High School in 1967 and received a degree in welding from Winona Vo-Tech, graduating in 1968. Ray served his country honorably in the United States Army from 1969-1971, being awarded two purple hearts. On August 25, 1973 he married Debra Kay Lehnertz at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. They had two children, Jeff and Lori. Debra died in 1981. In 1974, Ray went back to school for a degree in autobody. He worked for Warner & Swasey in Winona as well as the Army Corp of Engineers, retiring in 2008. Ray was a vegetable farmer at heart, he spent his whole life farming and it was something he truly enjoyed. He also was good at inventing and fabricating things. He also enjoyed hunting, going out to eat and most importantly spending time with his seven grandchildren who meant the world to him. Ray was a proud supporter of FFA. He will forever be remembered for his love of cooking chicken, one-liners, "hey,hey,hey", his smile and huge heart. He is survived by his sweetheart of 25 years, Sandy Moger; children, Jeff (Jean) Bronk of Winona, Lori (Lance) Miller of Edgar, WI and Shannon (Terry) Schell of Rollingstone; seven grandchildren, Carter, Chloe "Princess" and Cooper Bronk, Liam "Leelum" and Layla "Princess" Miller and Elliot and Isaac Schell; brothers and sisters, Bernie (Peggy) Bronk, Winona; Tony (Mary) Bronk, Minnesota City; Mary Ann (Joe Stickler) Richter, Inver Grove Heights, MN; Tom (Diane) Bronk, Winona; Patty Persons, Minneapolis, MN; James (Karen) Bronk, Prescott, WI; Rita (Kirk) Leafstedt, Mason City, IA; Joseph (Linda Jensen) Bronk, Farmington, MN; Janice Bronk, Winona; Susan (Jack) LaValla, St. Charles; Mike Bronk, Minnesota City; and Donald Bronk, Minnesota City; and many nieces and nephews.Ray was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Debra; infant twin grandchildren, Joseph and Brianna Bronk; and one sister, Dorothy "DJ" Bronk.Memorial Mass will be 11 a.m., Thursday, May 7, 2015 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Rollingstone with the Reverend William Kulas officiating. Visitation will be 4 - 8 p.m., Wednesday at Hoff Celebration of Life Center in Goodview with a Prayer Service at 8 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to mass at the church. He will be laid to rest at St. Mary's Cemetery in Winona where the American Legion Leon J. Wetzel Post #9 will perform Full Military Honors. As Ray would say, "The sun will shine again!"Please share a memory of Ray, sign his online guestbook and view his video tribute and complete life story when they become available at www.hofffuneral.com.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/593422