Ramon Horinek

Ramon Anton Horinek “Ray” born December 9, 1932, passe d peacefully from this life the morning of June 17 , 2020 after a gr adual decline in health.  He was surrounded and supported by his family during the last days of life.  Ray was born in Topeka, Kansas and raised on a farm in Atwood, Kansas. Ray is survived by his wife of 29 years, Tam Horinek ; brother, Tony Horinek and wife , Shari ; his children : Loretta Brewster, Teresa Von Gausig (spouse, John) , Michael Horinek (spouse, Suzanne) , Ramona Horinek, and Kathryn Martin ; hi s step - children: Thao Adams (spouse, Joe ) and Kathy Morrison ; dau ghter in - law : Kelly Horinek; and his many grandchildren : Jared and Sophia Jimenez ; Anthony Gonzales ; Christopher , Mat thew,  and Emily  Adams; Ashley  Turner,  Megan  Livengood, Douglas  and Drake  Von  Gausig ; Nichole Paul; and great - grandchildren:  Ar bor, Autumn and Aubrey Turner, Keyan Livengood; Severin, Ame thyst, Adler, Sofia and Maven Von Gausig . Now  joins  his  parents : Anton  and  Henrietta Horinek;  brother , Leroy and  Larue  Horinek ;  son : Richard Horinek; step - daughter :  Ye n Morrison . As a young bo y, his love for flying began at an early age. Ray received his pilot ’ s license at the young a ge of  13  than  attending  Hay s  Military  Academ y  before  enlisting  in  the  Air  Force.    He  quickly  received  his commission and began his career as a pilot. He earned the second highest medal, the Air Force Cr oss, in February 1966  for  his  heroism and  combat  missions while assigned  to the  1 st Air  Commando  Wing  in Viet nam. On October 25, 1967, he was shot down while flying an F - 1 05 with the 355 th Tactical Fighter Wing .  He became a Prisoner of War for 5 ½ years . A fter his release on March 14 , 1973, h e was awarded six decorations for his heroism and leadership while a POW , including a n oak leaf cluster to the Silver Star he earned for his Phuc Yen mission.  He return ed to fly ing status and served out his Air Force career retir ing at  Randolph  A ir  Force  Base in  the  rank  of  Lieutenant  Colonel . His un wavering  strength  as a  POW an d cancer survivor nev er slowed him down. He enjoyed his life of retir ement in the local area with his wife, Tam. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, at the Schertz Funeral Home from 4:00pm to 8:00pm with a rosary to be recited at 7:00pm.  Funeral Mass will be conducted on Thursday, June 25, 2020, 11:30am at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Schertz, TX, interment will follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.

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