Ronald Weavel

¡RONALD E. 'BO' WEAVEL, 72 ROCKTON - Ronald E. "Bo" Weavel, 72 of Rockton died at 8:50 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, in Beloit Memorial Hospital, after a brief illness. He was born Sept. 25, 1940, in Indianapolis. Bunny married the former Carolyn A. Tucka on Aug. 14, 1965, in North Chicago. Ronald graduated from Southern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in fire science management in 1991. He worked as the fire chief for Rockton Fire Protection District, retiring in January 2009. He had also worked for Resource One, Inc. in Rockford; City of Watertown, Wis., as fire chief/director of Emergency Gov.; City of Rockford fire Dept; Illinois Fire Service Institute University of Illinois Champaign; City of Beloit, Wis., Fire Department; City of Lake Forest Fire Department; Great Naval Station Fire Department in Great Lakes. Ronald was also active on many boards: Rock Valley College Fire Science Program, Stateline Fallen Firefighters, Illinois Firefighters Association and Foundation, Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois Fire Rescue Association, National Fire Protection Association, Illinois, International Fire/Arson Investigators, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Illinois and Wisconsin Fire Chiefs Associations, International Society of Fire Service Instructors, Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) since 1982 when elected charter secretary of the newly formed Division Eight and then elected vice president; he served as chief of Task Force Eight at the Utica tornado of 2004, where he received a Humanitarian award for services rendered from MABAS and Illinois Fire Chief Association. In 2005, he was a task force chief during the tornado in Stoughton, Wis., and this was a driving force in the establishment of Division Eight's Regional Fire Academy. Chief Weavel's job statement is "The fire service is the best dam job in the world!" Ronald served in the U. S. Navy with overseas duty in the far East aboard the USS Henrico APA-45 with the 7th Fleet. Member of St. Peter Catholic Church in South Beloit. Ronald was active with many civic and village boards in the towns in which he lived. Survivors include wife, Carolyn of Rockton; sons, Ronald E. (Julie) Weavel Jr., of Pleasant Prairie, Wis., Brian Paul (Stacy) Weavel of Winnebago, Eric Scott Weavel of Newark, Wis.; grandchildren that are his pride and joy, Alec and Evan Weavel; brothers, Frank (Susan) Lee, Paul (Diane) Lee, Mark (Marcella) Lee; aunt, Annette Hamilton and her family; mother-in-law, Genevieve Tucka of Winnebago; brother-in-law, John Tucka; very special brother-in-law, James Tucka; numerous nieces and nephews. Predeceased by special aunt and uncle that were like a mother and father, Elizabeth and Joseph Lee; sister, Stephanie Gorman; father-in-law, John Tucka Jr. The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to family, friends and the brotherhood of fireman for all their help, prayers and support. Prayers at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7, in McCorkle Funeral Home, 767 N. Blackhawk Blvd., Rockton. Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Monday in St. Peter Catholic Church, 620 Blackhawk Blvd., South Beloit, with Father Steven M. Sabo officiating. Burial in Rockton Township Cemetery, Rockton. Visitation from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6, in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Rockton Volunteer Firefighter Association, 201 N. Blackhawk Blvd., POB 349, Rockton IL 61072. Visit mccorklefuneralhome.com to send online condolences.