Ronald Alex GERENCHER

14 JUN 1941 - 14 OCT 2011

• BIRTH: 14 JUN 1941, South Bend, IN
• DEATH: 14 OCT 2011, South Bend, IN

• MARRIAGE: 11 JUN 1966, St Joseph County Indiana

INDEX

[N14701] Birth: Jun. 14, 1941
South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana
Death: Oct. 14, 2011
South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana
SOUTH BEND - Ronald A. Gerencher, 70, of South Bend, Indiana passed away Wednesday morning into the arms of our Lord, on October 12, 2011, in Memorial Hospital.
Ron was born June 14, 1941, on Flag Day, in South Bend to the late Alex and Margaret (Poczik) Gerencher. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Thomas Gerencher. Ron was Vice President of Louie's Tux Shop for 25 years. He was the owner and operator of the Loading Dock in South Bend and Elkhart, Indiana, the Director of Development with St. Joseph's High School from 1993-1997, and a school teacher and coach with St. Joseph's Grade School in Mishawaka, Indiana. Ron loved his family very much. On June 11, 1966, Ron married Marie S. Trzybinski who survives. Surviving with his wife Marie S. Gerencher of 45 years is his son Kevin and daughter-in-law Jill Gerencher of South Bend, Indiana; his grandson Austin; and his sister-in-law Rita Gerencher of Arizona. Ron was many things to many people, a husband, a father, grandfather, brother-in-law, and a friend to everyone he met. He was especially proud of his Hungarian ancestry and heritage and truly enjoyed cooking chicken paprikash and goulash for his family and close friends. Ron loved education. He was a teacher & coach for St. Joseph's Grade School in Mishawaka. He coached various sports and had several undefeated teams. His players will always remember him for his "Suicide" drills. Ron was a graduate of St. Joseph's High School in South Bend in the "Class of 59" and was the "Go to Guy" for the class.
He attended Indiana University for a year and graduated from Colorado State University, where he played tight-end on the football team. Ron initiated the effort to establish an endowment for St. Joseph's High School. He was a member of St. Joseph's High School, School Board where he chaired the Public Relations and Development Committee. He also initiated and established an active Alumni Association to support future development efforts and served as Treasurer. He was chairman of a parents group that raised $20,000 in 45 days to send a team to the Junior Olympics, served on the Urban League Board of Directors, was a member of BETA GAMMA SIGMA, Business Administration Honorary Fraternity, past President of Catholic Youth Adults, past President of Christ the King CYO, received the Kiwanis Award in Football, and was a member of the National Honor Society at St. Joseph's High School. Ron was a member of Sacred Heart Parish, Notre Dame; a member of the Northern Indiana Philatelic Society; attended Notre Dame football and basketball games since 1964; loved spending time with his grandson, Austin; played bridge and sudoku; loved to travel, collect stamps, play ping pong, and bowl. Visitation will be held from 2-8 p.m. Sunday, October 16, 2011, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, Indiana, where a Rosary will be prayed at 5 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. Monday, October 17, 2011, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Joseph's High School Endowment, 1414 North Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana 46617. To send condolences online please visit Kaniew ski.com. Published in South Bend Tribune on October 14, 2011