Ronald A. Pekar
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Ronald A. Pekar, 64, passed away peacefully in the home he shared with his wife of 30 years, Melissa, and his daughter, Bailey, by his side the morning of December 22, 2021.
Beloved by his family and friends, he will always be remembered for his dedication to his family, to his job, and to photographing the things that mattered most to him in life.
Ron was born to Norman and Lorraine Pekar on October 27, 1957, in Hollywood, Florida. He graduated from Chaminade Catholic High School in 1975 and went on to earn his Bachelor's in Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University. Known for always having his eyes to the sky, Ron could scarcely be kept on the ground. He got his license to fly even before he could drive a car. In what he called "the first improbability" of many, he was hired by Northwest Airlines "off the street" for a temporary position in Miami. From there, his dedication to honing his craft and grabbing every opportunity with open hands and an open mind allowed him to work his way up through the ranks of the aviation industry. He crisscrossed the country, living and working and touching the lives of those around him everywhere from Florida, to Tennessee, to Detroit, and to Minnesota, the place that became his home." One final improbable was meeting Missy," he wrote, something that was, yet again, due to the ebb and flow of the airline business. On December 3, 1990, Ron Pekar and Melissa Gaioni's paths crossed due to a collision at the Detroit airport where they both worked. They were married June 12, 1992, at the Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, Michigan. They have enjoyed more than 29 1/2 beautiful years of marriage. His happiest moments were spent with his camera, where he shared his passions through his photos. Ron Pekar never went anywhere without that camera! He leaves behind thousands of photos of his greatest moments: airplanes soaring through the sky, wildlife crossing through in his own backyard, his dogs, Winston and Thunder, spending time with their devoted father, taking in the beautiful sights that caught his eye around the world. He was also beloved at his daughter Bailey's figure skating rink, known as much for his smile behind the camera as for his beautiful pictures of the skaters.
In his final years, his dedication to life became even more apparent as he faced the hardest challenge man can ever face. He was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer in December 2019, given somewhere between 3 and 12 months to live. Pancreatic cancer is one of those diseases that works with furious speed, taking more than 80% of patients within a few months of diagnosis. Ron was determined to have more time.Dubbed "The Energizer Bunny" by both his colleagues at Endeavor Air and the nursing staff at Minnesota Oncology, Ron's tenacity and grit through his illness continues to inspire us. Surpassing the odds, he and his family cherished every single extra moment he fought for during those two long years he lived with his illness. Oh, how he lived. As terrible as those long months of frequent chemo appointments were, he never once complained. For Ron, it was business as usual right up until his final days, living a full life at home with his wife, daughter, and dog by his side.
Ron is survived by his beloved family members: Norman and Lorraine Pekar, Elaine Pekar, Janet Campbell (Tom) and Karen Hopkins (Tom), Danielle Padilla (Silvio), Chris (Kyle) and Tommy Campbell (Nicole), Bennett and Preston and Landon Hopkins, Carmen Gaioni, John Gaioni and Denise Drach. He will be greatly missed.
Mass of Christian Burial took place on 11 AM Thursday, December 30, 2021 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 4625 W 125th St #1357, Savage, MN with a gathering of family and friends starting at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers memorials will be donated to Feeding America.