John L Drnek

John L. Drnek, 90, of Rockford, died peacefully on Sunday, March 6, 2016. He was born in Chicago, IL, on March 23, 1925; to parents, John W. and Mary Louise (Link) Drnek. John graduated from High School in Birchwood, WI, in 1943; and went on to UW Madison, graduating with honors in Electrical Engineering in 1947. He married Gwendolyn H. Burnell at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Rockford on September 23, 1950; and were members of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Rockford. They spent 42 years together, before Gwendolyn’s passing in 1992. John was Scout Master of Troop 731, and was proud to work with the youth in our community. He was a 3rd degree member of the Knights of Columbus Muldoon Council 470. John worked in the aircraft test lab at Barber-Colman from 1947 to 1974, and worked for Greenlee Tool until 1986. John contracted independently as an Electrical Engineer until his retirement in 1996. John was an avid collector of antique fishing tackle. John was married to Rosemary G. Cleary on April 18, 1997, in Rockford, and they were married for 18 years until Rosemary’s passing in 2015. John and Rosemary were devout and faithful members of Holy Family Catholic Church in Rockford. He will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and brother.
Survived by his children, Mary T. Drnek, John P. (Jeanette) Drnek, James M. Drnek, and Peter F. Drnek; grandchildren, Sarah and Dustin Drnek; great grandchildren, Morgan and Averie Gwendolyn; sister, Mary Lou (Elmer) Wagner; The Cleary Family, Roberta, Cynthia, Deborah, and Michael. He is predeceased by his parents; first wife, Gwendolyn Drnek in 1992; second wife, Rosemary G. Cleary-Drnek in 2015; brothers and sisters in-law, Joseph and Agnes Drnek, and Charles and Jean Drnek.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 10, 2016; at Holy Family Catholic Church, 4407 Highcrest Rd., Rockford, IL. Burial will follow to Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, 2016; at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 1860 S. Mulford Rd., Rockford, IL; and continue on Thursday at Church from 9:30 a.m. until time of prayers at 10:15 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be given to Holy Family Catholic Church. The Drnek Family would like to express their gratitude and thanks to Comfort Keepers of Rockford, VNA Hospice, and to the Staff at the Villa at P.A. Peterson Home.