Ronald C. Goc

He was born on Mother’s Day, May 13, 1945, in the Chicago neighborhood of Pilsen, first son of Chester and Helen (Gall) Goc. World War II had yet to end so Chester was not present. He did not meet his new son until October, when he was discharged after nearly five years of service in the United States Army Air Force. In 1953, the family moved to Meade Avenue on the Southwest Side. Ron attended St. Jane’s grade school and later commuted by CTA bus to St. Philip Basilica High School, graduating in 1963.

Ron was a natural athlete. He played Chicago softball on vacant lots and in city park leagues. He played softball on base teams in the Air Force. Golf was his passion in his later years, and he hit the links as often as he could.

After high school he worked at retail stores on State Street in Chicago. He used the money he earned there to buy his first car, a used 1957 Chevrolet. He needed a car because, while working downtown, he met the love of his life, Anita Frey, who happened to live on the far North Side. Their romance was interrupted by the war in Vietnam.

In 1965, Ron volunteered for service in the United States Air Force. After about a year, he returned on leave and married Anita. She joined him when he was assigned to Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas, where their first son Paul was born, and where they lived until his discharge in 1969.

They returned home to the Southwest Side, where son Mark was born in 1970. Encouraged by his father, who was a printer, Ron entered the printing trade. He worked as a printer/lithographer until his retirement in 1998.

In 1974, Ron and Anita purchased their first home in Tinley Park, where daughter Natalie was born. They were an active young family centered on sports. The boys played Bulldog football and pick up hockey on Ron’s homemade ice rink. Natalie was a Bulldog cheerleader in grade school and a softball player in high school and college. Ron rarely missed a game.

He worked many overtime hours, but he and Anita reserved Saturday nights for music with their children. The LPs would spin on the stereo, the kids would pretend they were the band, playing air guitars and dancing in front of the faux fireplace with lights that Ron would flick on and off to create a strobe for his rock stars.

Not long after they purchased a new house in Orland Park, Anita was diagnosed with terminal cancer. After months of painful struggle, she passed away in May of 1982. Grief-stricken himself, Ron was now the single parent of three children. He accepted the responsibility and, with a little help from his parents, raised his children. He accepted responsibility again in 1997, when his mother was paralyzed by a stroke. For the next fifteen years until she passed, Ron supervised her care. It was his way of showing love.

As the years passed, he lived alone in his house, but he always had plenty of company. His children returned home and sometimes stayed for a while, as did one or more of his grandchildren. All his family, his friends and his children’s friends were welcome too. They enjoyed his blunt manner and outspoken opinions delivered in the South Side accent he never outgrew. He was tough on the outside, but kind and loving inside.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Chester Goc, his nephew Nathan, and his dearest Anita. He is survived by his children: Paul and his wife Lisa Macaluso, Mark, Natalie and her husband Bill Misch; grandchildren Ashley, Jessica, Nicole, Ava and Scott; step-grandchildren Nicholas, Alyssa, Jamie and Halley; great-grandchildren Brayden, Savannah, Alayna, Izaiah, Jaxon and Ocean; step-great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Kayden; his brother Michael and his wife Barbara Weade; his niece Rachel and her husband Richard Adams; great-nephew Julian Goc-Adams.

Visitation will be held at Orland Funeral Home, 9900 W 143RD ST, ORLAND PARK, IL 60462, on July 9, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

A Funeral Service will take place at Orland Funeral Home, 9900 W 143RD ST, ORLAND PARK, IL 60462, on July 10, 2026, from 9:30 am to 10:00 am.

A Committal Service will be held at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, 20953 W Hoff Rd, Elwood, IL 60421, US, on July 10, 2026, from 11:00 am to 11:30 am.