Ronald Jerome “Ron” Mack, son of Jerome and Berdina (Hamling) Mack, was born June 23, 1933, in Petersburg, Nebraska.  Ron grew up in Petersburg, and also on the farm near town, where he attended St. John the Baptist Parochial School.  Upon completing his education, Ron worked on the family farm with his father, until being inducted into the United States Army on August 5, 1954, in Omaha, Nebraska.  He served Stateside during the Korean War, until receiving his Honorable Discharge on August 3, 1956.  After service to his country, Ron went to work in the missile fields of western Nebraska during the start of the Cold War, and also worked on the Hall Ranch.  On September 5, 1964, Ron was married to Kathleen A. Kallhoff at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in Raeville, Nebraska.  The young couple moved to Norfolk, Nebraska, immediately after marriage, and were blessed with three children: Randall, Glenn, and Rhonda Kay. 

Ron was very proud of his career with Vulcraft/Nucor Cold Finish in Norfolk.  He came in on the ground floor as one of the first 20 employees hired.  Ron started out as welder, and by the time he retired after 34 years of loyal service, he is credited with leading Norfolk’s Nucor Cold Finish to be a premier cold-drawn steel division.  Ron devoted his life to his career, but most importantly, to his family.  When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and working on the family farm that he had retained near Petersburg, and also loved spending time with his family.  Ron’s kids and grandkids were his whole world.

Ron was a member of Sacred Heart Parish of Norfolk, Nebraska, the American Legion Post #334 of Petersburg, as well as the National Rifle Association.  He died Friday, June 21, 2013, at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk, two days short of what would have been his 80th birthday.

Left to cherish his memory and life are Ron’s family, which includes his wife of nearly 49 years, Kathy Mack of Norfolk, Nebraska; children, Randy (wife Janice) Mack of Paoli, Pennsylvania (their children, Phil and Ellie), Glenn (wife Leahann Kitagawa) of St. Albert, Alberta, Canada, and Rhonda (husband Todd) Sellin of Norfolk (and their children, Zach and Amanda Kay); sister, Jenalda Heithoff-Dittrich of Elgin, Nebraska; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jerome and Berdina Mack; and brother, David Mack.