WEST BROOKLYN - Gerald Albert Hornung, 83, of West Brooklyn passed away Sept. 13, 2019 at Heritage Health, Mendota.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at St. Mary’s Church, West Brooklyn with Rev. Randy Fronek officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, West Brooklyn. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at the Schwarz Funeral Home, Mendota, and for one hour prior to services on Wednesday at the church.

Jerry was born Aug. 30, 1936 in Spearville, Kan. to Clements and Helen (Highland) Hornung. He married Janet Gehant on Feb. 6, 1958 and they were able to celebrate 60 wonderful years together before she passed on May 6, 2018.

Survivors include four children, Richard Hornung of West Brooklyn, Robert (Ann) Hornung of Kearney, Mo., LuAnn (Bob) Kromm of West Brooklyn, and Connie (Dan) Retzer of Rockford; 19 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one brother, Fred Hornung of Dodge City, Kan.; and three sisters, Maryann Johnson of Dodge City, Kan., Sherrie (Don) Nau of Dodge City, Kan., and Theresa Barnett of Spearville, Kan.

He was preceded in death by his wife; one sister, Reva Jean; and his parents.

Jerry came to work for Mayrath in Compton and held a job with the highway division of Illinois. In 1966, he started his own very successful business, Hornung Tiling Service, which he developed and ran well into his 70s. He will be forever remembered for taking care of his family, and spending his years of retirement giving his love, support and time to his wife, Janet who he respected and adored. He was active in his community and was involved for many years as a volunteer fireman with the West Brooklyn Volunteer Fire Department, was a 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus, and was a member of the Land Improvement Contractors of America and St. Mary’s Catholic Church. He never met a stranger and you knew when you got a phone call he would first say, “Yeah, what you doin’?”

Memorials may be directed to Mendota Area Senior Services, Heritage Health in Mendota or St. Mary’s Church West Brooklyn. Condolences may be left at schwarzfuneral.com.