Ronald Edward Svik
December 26, 1943 - October 7, 2016
Obituary
Ronald “Ron” Svik
Ron was born the day after Christmas in 1943 in Columbus, Nebraska, to Edward Joseph and LaVaine Emily (Prazak) Svik. He died at the age of 72 on Friday, October 7, 2016, following an accident sustained while he was at work. In 1962, Ron visited Seattle to attend its World’s Fair; and he fell in love with the area. He moved back to Seattle from Nebraska in 1984, and has lived here ever since.
A graduate of Clarkson High School in Clarkson, Nebraska; Ron was on their championship football team his senior year. After high school, he remained actively involved in Clarkson, including serving on their volunteer fire department, as well as being a member of the Lion’s Club, Elk’s Lodge, and Commercial Club. He was also a longtime member of the National Rifle Association, Ducks Unlimited, and Pheasants Forever.
For many years he owned and operated the Kozy Korner made-to-order restaurant, affectionately known as Clarkson’s “Happy Days” drive-in. Following this, he found his life’s passion as a specialty painter; and ran his own paint company, Ron’s Painting, in both Nebraska and Washington. He was particularly adept at creating faux finishes with paint.
Ron enjoyed the outdoors, and was an avid sportsman, especially fishing and upland bird hunting. He was great at teaching his grandchildren gun safety. He loved all animals, but especially dogs; and he would share his lunch every day with his “best friend.”
Ron was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather; and enjoyed attending his grandkids’ sporting events whenever possible. His family describes him as an “original,” and that “everything he did was real and from the heart.”
Ron is survived by his beloved wife of 31 years, Sandy Svik, of Seattle; two sons, Jeff Svik, Kirkland, and Joseph Svik, Elk Heights; two step-children, Royce Hockett, Maltby, and Erin Hockett, Seattle; one sister, Lynn Lueschen, Enumclaw; and eight grandchildren, Ashley, Josh, Lauren, Jessie, Annalise, Jeremy, Orrin, and Stella.
Ron was an active member of Holy Family Catholic Church in White Center, where a Memorial Mass will be held in his honor on Thursday, November 10th, at 6:30 pm. The address of the church is 9622 20th Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98106. A reception will immediately follow next door at the church school.
The family would like memorial contributions made to Pheasants Forever, Yakima Chapter #311. You can access more information at the following link – https://www.facebook.com/events/1812364059008312/
Please visit Ron’s online obituary at www.bonneywatson.com to view photographs and sign his register book. Arrangements entrusted to BONNEY-WATSON WASHINGTON MEMORIAL, 16445 International Boulevard, SeaTac, WA 98188. Questions can be directed to (206) 242-1787.
God needed another angel. God bless you Ron.
Our Deepest Sympathy.
We went to school together from Day One. Over the years we made a lot of memories together, From going fishing with a farm tractor and wagon, (before any of us were 16) To Enlisting in the Air Force. We went to Omaha together but he failed the physical. (do not remember why. There is not enough room to say everything in between.
He was a great friend
Rich Neuhaus
Why did this have to happen? I don’t know. The will of God is something none of us can never fully comprehend. Of all my cousins Ron is the one I always felt closest to. We always touched base with each other by phone around the holidays to wish each other and our respective families Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas. This holiday season will be different and I am not ashamed to say I will shed some tears because I will not be able to talk with my dear cousin. I can remember growing up in Clarkson with Ron we would go fishing together and I would occasionally stay over at his parents house with him in the summer. I distinctly remember one time when he and I slept in a pup tent in his parent’s back yard. At that time Ron was a in high school and I was in junior high. Believe it or not Ron was a smoker then and had a pack of cigarettes in the pup tent with him. Sometime during the night the dog got a hold of the cigarettes and we awoke to find them shredded all over the yard in front of the tent. I guess the dog must have been upset because he could not find anything to light them with. I had the honor of serving as pallbearer for Ron’s mother at her funeral in Clarkson and when I mentioned this to Ron after the funeral he remembered it also and we had quite a chuckle over it. As long as God allows me to remain on this earth I will never stop missing you Ron . I pray that we will see each other again some day and we can go fishing together or maybe smoke a couple of cigarettes together. God bless you and your family. I miss you terribly. I love you Ron.
Dear Daddy Ron,
It pains me so much knowing that you won’t be around anymore to kid us, comfort us, treat and entertain us sumptuous food, and most of all a father who always cares understands and LOVES us unconditionally no matter what. In such a short period of time that we met I honestly say ( for the first time) that you have become a father to me, real dad who always understands the need of a child ( like me) and I truly and deeply appreciated that for thr rest of my life. As I always “tagged” you are my second HOME and it will never change. Things happen for a reason and even though Ive been over 6 thousand miles away your memories will alway be here in my heart. At the moment, it’s so hard for me to accept the whole truth that LIFE ended so quick for you and I’m sorry for not being able to come visit and hug you again. Aunt Sandy’s letter was the second one that I poured out again ( first from Jeff’s) and been shocked and teary since then. Dad, I’m so sorry for giving you bad feelings when I was there with Jo, but I love you, and you know that. You’ll always be my father and your whole family will always be my family. I love you Dad.
Sincerely,
Beth
Ron,
Oh how I miss you so very much. One of my many awesome memories about you is during the bad snowstorms or thunderstorms in Nebraska when the power went out. We would crawl around the entire house, even the basement, on our hands & knees so as not to bump into things and severely injury ourselves. We even crawled down the basement stairs and would try to play tag in the basement. You really liked to scare me down there. What fun we had !!! Till we meet again my dear, dear Brother.
Love,
Lynn
Ron,
I really will miss my hunting partner immensely. We had some crazy times hunting in eastern Washington. The day we were going over to hunt and hit an ice patch on Snoqualmie Pass. The dogs were in the back of the truck in crates, thank goodness. The topper flew open as we hit. and Mattie’s crate basically blew up and she was out along the highway. No injuries, but the dogs were shaken up and rode the rest of the way on the back seat of your pickup.
That little episode never did slow down your driving.
Love and miss you my “Brother”.
Love,
John
Sandy, Jeff, Joe, Lynn and families,
We are thinking and praying for you on Thursday as you honor Ron’s memory and celebrate his wonderful life. May you find peace by wrapping yourselves in your memories for comfort. Speak of him and to him often. He’s really not not far away. He’ll always be in your heart.
God bless you,
Denny & Rita Dvorak
I worked with Ron for the last 15 years on many remodeling projects. I’m a general contractor and I have never worked with a more skilled painter. Ron bailed me out of countless difficult situations by mixing custom stain or taking a metal grate home with him to finish in a way that I didn’t even understand.
But his remarkable skill is not his most important trait. He was one of the most decent men I have ever known. In a time when so many of us are increasingly discontented and self-absorbed, he was always generous, kind, polite, gracious, and helpful. May we all honor his life by being more like him.
I picture him getting out of his truck in the morning and walking towards the jobsite with a drop cloth under his arm and a faint smile on his face. He seemed to be “doing what he was on this Earth to do.”
To a life well-lived, my friend. I will never forget you.
Tom Haak
Ron,
I pray that you can see from heaven how the election turned out. You would be extremely pleased. Maybe now we can finally get the country we love back on track. I miss you terribly.