ERAZIM, Ronnie M.

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, AZ - Published Saturday, December 3, 2011 - Ronnie M. Erazim Nov. 25, 1932 — Nov. 22, 2011 Ron Erazim, 78, passed away after a courageous six-month battle with cancer with his wife, Catherine, at his side. Ron was born in Grand Island, Neb., to John and Gladys Erazim. He lived in Hazard, Neb., where he went to school and worked on the family farm long before farming had been modernized. At 17, he left home and moved to Hastings, Neb., where he worked on the naval base at the munitions dump for six years. To put the cold winters behind him, he moved to Burbank, Calif., and began a 34-year career at Lockheed Aerospace. After working his way up from hourly to a salaried position at the Director of Production-Fabrication for many years, he made one of his goals to promote as many of his hourly Vietnam veterans to management positions. Ron retired June 30, 1990, and he and his wife, Catherine, moved permanently to Lake Havasu, to a home they’d built in 1984. Ron had been a member of Our Lady of the Lake for more than 21 years and was a volunteer in their soup kitchen a few years ago. He was a 21-year member of the Elks, a 20-year member of the Eagles, a member of the Sons of the American Legion and the Men’s Auxiliary of the VFW. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Gladys Erazim; his brother, Robert, who was killed in World War II at age 19; and his sister, Doris Wilcox. Ron is survived by his wife, Catherine Erazim; his sons, Robert and Bruce; stepsons, Doug, Scott and David Johnston; and three grandchildren, Nolan, Carol and Brad Johnston. A Lodge of Sorrow will be at the Elks Lodge 2399, 3532 McCulloch Blvd., Dec. 11, at noon. Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home & Crematory.