- Date Of Birth: July 22, 1930
- Date Of Death: May 3, 2016
- State: Illinois
Ray S. Hornickel, 85, of La Salle and formerly of Marseilles, died at 7:10 PM May 3, 2016 at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Spring Valley.
Mr. Hornickel was born in Chatsworth on July 22, 1930 to Robert and Anna (Branz) Hornickel. He married Judith Ann Simpson on May 22, 1982 in Marseilles.
Ray graduated from Pontiac High School in 1948 and immediately joined the Illinois National Guard. He served in the Korean Conflict with the US Army, then returned to start his family. He farmed, was an insurance adjuster, and was appointed by the Guard to develop the grounds of the Illinois National Guard Training Facility at Marseilles.
In 1996, Ray retired from both the State and the Illinois National Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel, the last officer in Illinois to rise through the ranks from Pvt.
After retiring, Ray continued to enjoy his family, sports, playing cards, and board games, and watching nature.
Mr. Hornickel is survived by wife Judy of La Salle; four children: Jodith (Wally) Lewis of East Peoria, Beverly (Stuart) Brown of Port Byron, Brian (Karen) Hornickel of Vernon Hills, and James Wilson of La Salle; thirteen grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; two sisters: Geraldine Kietzman of Gibson City and Dolores Seggerman of Pontiac; sister-in-law Vivian Hornickel of Gilman; and brother-in-law Everett Simpson of Sherman.
He was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters.
