Ronald Lee Hooper Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Ronald Lee Hooper Age 73, of Essex, IL, passed away Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at his home surrounded by his wife and daughters. Born February 8, 1944. Ron graduated from Reddick High School with the class of 1962. He began his 50 year career with John Deere at Wheeler in Kankakee, then was drafted in the United States Army in 1966. After serving in the Vietnam War he married Roxanne, and together they raised their family in Essex. Ron was a lifelong farmer where he also raised and trained horses on their Sandy Lane Appaloosa Farm. He served as Superintendent of the Kankakee County Fair 4-H Horse and Pony Show for over three decades. Ron loved farming, raising and training horses, going out for breakfast, his wife, family, and grandchildren and watching the Chicago Cubs. A highlight of his life was attending game 3 of the 2016 World Series. Ron was a member of the VFW Post 9961 in Bourbonnais, St. Lawrence O’Toole Catholic Church in Essex, Appaloosa Horse Club, American Quarter Horse Association, and an Honorary Member of the KWI Saddle Club. He was awarded 1999 Exhibitor of the Year at the Grundy County Agricultural District Fair, was 2011 Grundy County Agriculture District Fair Grand Champion High Point Horse Gamer, given in memory of Sean Hooper, and received the Kankakee County 4-H Alumni Award. Surviving are his wife, Roxanne (nee Joyce), whom he married May 4, 1968; two daughters, Tara (Braulio) Casas of Santa Monica, CA and Kari (Blake) Walles of Wilmette, IL; seven grandchildren, Cecilia, Josephine, Catherine and Lucas Casas and Annalee, Holden, and Anders Walles; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Michelle Laird, Terrance and Gail Joyce, Maureen Joyce, and Kelly and Matt Fogarty; brother-in-law, Milo Veigelt; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death was his son, Sean Michael Hooper, parents, Harold Hooper and Mary (nee Dunn) and step-father, Everett Brousseau; sisters, Shirley Shulk and Beverly Veigelt; and brother-in-law, Robert Shulk. Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Reddick on Monday, January 22, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Rev. William O’Shea and Rev. Stanley Drewniak will officiate. Interment with military honors will follow in North Cemetery in Essex. The visitation will be Sunday, January 21, from 2-6 p.m. Memorial gifts in his name may be directed to the Kankakee County 4-H Foundation. R.W. Patterson Funeral Home & Crematory 401 E. Main St., Braidwood, 815-458-2336 www.rwpattersonfuneralhomes.com

Ronald Lee Hooper

February 8, 1944 - January 17, 2018

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