Verona Kathryn "Ronnie", nee Dow, Hessick , 92, formerly of New Athens , IL, passed away on January 9, 2015 at her home in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born September 15, 1922 in Greeley, Iowa to Esther and Huse Dow.
She attended Greeley High School, Upper Iowa University, and the American Institute of Business in Des Moines. She played the clarinet in the band and sang in the choir.
As a young woman, she moved to Iowa City and worked at the Navy Pre-Flight Base, where she met and married Howard Hessick. They moved to Florida and eventually moved to New Athens, where they raised 4 children. She went on adventures and cruises around the country throughout her lifetime; she was a member of the Methodist Church, PTA President and a member of the Woman's Club. She also worked at the New Athens Journal Press and was an American Legion Auxiliary Past President.
Ronnie was in several bridge groups, was an avid reader, and a gourmet cook. She enjoyed funny movies, roller coasters and walking 4 miles a day.
Ronnie was an extraordinary Mother, Wife, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister, Daughter and Mother-in-law. She was a person of honesty, integrity, faith and moral conviction. She loved her family deeply, and they loved her just as intensely.
Ronnie is preceded in death by her husband of sixty-seven years, Howard Hessick, a brother and sister-in-law, Victor and Arlene Dow, a sister and brother-in-law, Verlene and Don Mangels, brother-in-law, Richard Gilliland, brother-in-law, Bill Hentze, an infant daughter, Pamela Hessick, and a son, Scott Howard Hessick.
She is survived by her daughter, Kathy (Gary) Spriggs of Las Vegas, a son, Michael (Joette) Hessick of Park City, UT, and daughter, Kimberly (Steve) Rumble of Lakeridge, VA, brother, Verne (Joanne) Dow of Topeka, KS, sister, Vivian Gilliland of Florida, and sister-in-law and lifelong friend, June Hentze of Greenville, Illinois.
Grandchildren surviving are Kristin (Jason Dionne) Hessick of Bountiful, UT, Michael (Isil) Hessick of Salt Lake City, UT, Mandi (Ned) Richmond of Washington D.C., and Zachary Rumble of Lakeridge, Virginia. She has 3 great grandchildren, Ozan and Arya Hessick and Tia Dionne.
No formal services are scheduled at this time. Family and friends will gather for the interment of Ronnie's ashes at Oakridge Cemetery in New Athens, IL later this summer.
Celebrate her life by doing an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness, or send a donation in her name to The American Diabetic Association.